FRANCE CUTTING DOWN ON SHORT FLIGHTS

If you’re thinking of hopping on a plane to take a short flight in France, you’re going to have to make other plans.

The European country is banning all short-haul domestic flights if there’s a rail alternative that takes less than two and a half hours to complete.

The aim of the ban is to cut carbon dioxide emissions and the European Commission (EC) has given the ban its two thumbs up.

So far, eight routes have been banned. This includes flights between Paris Orly Airport and the cities of Nantes, Bordeaux and Lyon.

The decision was met with backlash from several authorities. Electrek reports that the measure to ban short-haul commercial flights within France, first proposed in 2021, needed the nod of approval from the EC after considerable pushback from the Union of French Airports and the European branch of the Airports Council International.

The government is hoping to improve rail services in the near future. This will mean flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Lyon and Rennes, and between Lyon and Marseille will also be banned.

The ban has been approved for three years after which it will be re-evaluated by the EC.

Image credit: Bright Vibes