Through decree N°2023-385 published this Tuesday, the French government formalized the conditions of application of the prohibition of regular domestic flights on routes that have the possibility of being carried out by rail in less than two and a half hours.
This measure falls within the policy of combating climate change and mitigating its effects, although generally the industry believes that it has more of a symbolic impact than a real one since initially only three routes will be affected, those linking Paris-Orly airport with Nantes, Bordeaux and Lyon.
The rail services, the decree specifies, must have these characteristics to be considered a valid alternative to the plane:
- «The journey must be carried out between stations that serve the same populations as the respective airports. However, when the more important of these two airports, taking into account the average traffic recorded over the last seven years, is directly served by a high-speed rail service, the station taken into account for the application of the provisions in this paragraph is the one that serves this airport».
- The connection is made without a transfer between these stations, several times a day and with a satisfactory, affordable service and a level of frequencies that must be sufficient and with suitable schedules, taking into account the transport needs of the travelers who use this link, particularly in terms of connectivity and intermodality, as well as the traffic diversions that would result from the prohibition
- The rail link should allow passengers to spend more than eight hours at their destination during the day.
Finally, they clarify that before each aeronautical season, the Ministry competent in matters of civil aviation will make an evaluation to determine the potentially affected air routes and inform the airlines.
The decree will initially be in force for three years.
«Achieving carbon neutrality means intensifying our action in terms of decarbonizing transport, which still represents 30% of emissions. As we tirelessly fight to decarbonize our lifestyles, how can we justify the use of the plane between large cities that benefit from regular, fast and efficient train connections?» said Clément Beaune, Deputy Minister in charge of transportation.
«I welcome the publication of the decree that makes the prohibition of national airlines effective when there is a less than 2h30 train alternative. This is an essential step and a strong symbol in the policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This measure is a world first and is totally in line with the Government’s policy of promoting the use of transport modes that emit less greenhouse gases,» he concluded.
