FNAM Strongly Opposes New French Air Transport Tax Proposal
The National Federation of Aviation and its Professions (FNAM), representing the French aviation sector, has expressed its firm opposition to the government's intention to introduce a new tax on French air transport. This tax would be levied specifically on airport concessionaires' turnover.
FNAM is strongly against this new tax proposal and is surprised by the manner in which it was announced, without prior consultation or information-sharing with stakeholders in the aviation sector.
Engaging in a dialogue with the aviation sector on this matter would have allowed for a clear explanation of the implications of this new measure. It would have been revealed that, due to the regulatory framework in France, the cost of this new tax would primarily be borne by airlines and their passengers.
This tax proposal adds to a series of other taxes and restrictions imposed nationally or at the European level, which do not contribute to the ecological transition of air transport but significantly reduce the competitiveness of the French flag. However, the French aviation industry has identified the necessary measures and investments to effectively reduce its CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The announced taxation measures will inevitably increase the airfares paid by many residents in mainland France and overseas territories. For them, air travel is not a luxury but a necessity due to the lack of sustainable and financially accessible alternative modes of transportation.
Air transport has democratized itself while being self-financed. The accumulation of fiscal measures unnecessarily threatens its future and hinders its decarbonization by limiting investments in new fleets and sustainable aviation fuels. Currently, various taxes and charges already account for nearly half of the ticket price on European routes.
FNAM calls for the abandonment of the additional taxation on airport concessions, which has not undergone any consultation. Otherwise, FNAM will explore legal remedies against the implementation of such a scheme. Its members remain fully committed to contributing sustainably to the economic development of France and its territories.