In France, short-haul domestic flights will be phased out, allowing alternative rail connections to be used. The law has come into force, banning air travel between major French cities such as France Paris, nantes, Lyons And Bordeaux. The announcement by the French Transport Minister Clement Beaune specified that it is a “significant step and a powerful symbol in the policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”. We fight tirelessly to decarbonize our lifestyle. How can we justify using flights between major cities that have regular, fast and efficient rail services?”
They are currently hired only three routes, which corresponds to 4% of the national lines: those connecting Paris-Orly airport to the cities of Bordeaux, Nantes and Lyon. Connecting flights are not affected. According to the associations, one provision is not sufficient. In fact, France has become the first country in the world to effectively force people to use the train instead of the plane for journeys under two and a half hours. But not everyone agrees with these new provisions Laurent Donceelinterim head of industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E), said: “Baning these trips will have minimal impact on carbon production. Instead, governments should support real and meaningful solutions to the problem.”
On the other hand, sources speak of problems with air traffic 77 times more CO2 per passenger compared to rail for short journeys. The law comes into effect two years after lawmakers voted to eliminate routes that could have taken the same journey by train. The proposal of the Citizens’ Convention on climate launched by Macron in 2019 initially provided for four hours, but was then reduced to two and a half hours.Criticism of the French government’s decision There were some, mostly from the airlines.
“No one is deceived by this measure: Passengers, of course, refuse to take flights on these routes,” he tweeted Guillaume Schmid, former vice-president of the Air France pilots’ union. “The French flight ban is a symbolic step but will have little impact on reducing emissions,” he said Yes DardenneDirector of Aviation at Transport & Environment.