In an attempt to reduce airline emissions, France on Tuesday banned domestic flights on short routes that can be covered by train in less than two-and-a-half hours.
The move will mostly rule out air travel between Paris and regional hubs such as Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux.
The French government’s law specified that train services on the same route must be frequent, timely and well-connected enough to meet the needs of passengers who would otherwise travel by air.
People making such trips should be able to make outbound and return train journeys on the same day, having spent eight hours at their destination.
Although the measure was included in a 2021 climate law and already applied in practice, some airlines had asked the European Commission to investigate whether it was legal.
A4E highlighted its own net zero by 2050 strategy, which includes switching to jet fuel from non-fossil sources and deploying battery- or hydrogen-powered aircraft.
As French lawmakers have been debating how to cut emissions from private jets, the development has irked the aviation industry.
While Green MPs have called for banning small private flights altogether, Transport Minister Clement Beaune last month trailed a higher climate charge for users from next year.
The French government had already secured Air France’s compliance with the plan in exchange for a 2020 coronavirus financial support package.
(With inputs from agencies)
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