France flights will increase in price next year as the country introduces a new charge on plane tickets. The new ‘ecotax’ will be introduced in 2020 and will apply to most flights departing from France. According to French transport minister Elisabeth Borne, the tax will cost between €1.50 (£1.30) and €18 (£16.20), reported the Associated Press (AP). The revenue accrued through the ‘ecotax’ will be used to fund environment-friendly alternatives, it was announced this week.
It’s expected the tax will raise over €180 million (£161million) from 2020.
Flights exempt from the tax are domestic flights to Corsica and France’s overseas territories and connecting flights through France.
It will not apply to flights arriving in France – only those leaving the country.
Budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair are popular with Britons heading to the other side of the Channel.
However, both carriers took a hit following the news of the introduction of the tax.
Shares in easyJet and Ryanair fell, as did shares in Air France/KLM, after the announcement, said AP.
The tax has not been welcomed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) who branded it “misguided.”
IATA spokesman Anthony Concil told AP: “National taxes will do nothing to assist the aviation industry in its sustainability efforts.”
He said the change could damage the aviation industry in France and have a negative impact on jobs.
Environmental campaigners have welcomed the news but still believe the French government has much further to go to help beat climate change.
So how much will it actually affect Britons heading off to holidays in France from next year?
Travel expert Simon Calder has revealed that while the price is going up, it amounts to “barely the price of a cup of coffee,” he told Euronews.
The UK also has air passenger duty. For standard passenger planes, this starts at £13 and rises to a maximum of £172. It generates more than £3 billion in Treasury revenue every year.
Calder said: ”Here in London, if I want to board an [economy] flight, it’s going to cost me about €15 [in tax]. The charge is going to be one-tenth of that for a flight within Europe in economy class.”
He added: “If you’re going long-haul from France, it’s going to be about €3. This compares, again, with the UK charge in economy of about €90.”
According to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, around 17 million British nationals visit France every year.
In related news, Paris is set to abolish the “anarchy” of tourist buses in the city, the capital’s deputy mayor has claimed.
Emmanuel Gregoire told French newspaper, Le Parisian: “Buses are no longer welcome in the very heart of the city.
“Tourists can do like everyone else does and switch to environmentally friendly mobility options or take public transport.”
In a telling comment, he added: “We need change.” Visitors are instead encouraged to use the metro, other public transport or to cycle or walk.