Some French flight prices for 2025 have already increased due to budget plans
Air France has increased prices in anticipation of the new budget…before the vote has even taken place
Air France has increased taxes on flights in 2025 - and says it will make refunds if the tax increase is rejected from the budget law
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French flagship airline Air France has, from October 31b increased prices on flights in 2025, in anticipation of future tax increases expected in the forthcoming French budget law.
The extra fees come even before the budget has been voted on in parliament. The budget may increase the taxe de solidarité sur les billets d’avions (TSBA, the ‘solidarity’ tax on airline tickets), but the measure is still under discussion.
Read also: Heated French budget examination to resume next week
The price of a ticket for a flight from Paris to Nice in 2025 is set to rise by €8. Other domestic, European, and long-haul flights are also set to be affected by higher tax fees applied by the airline.
For example:
For domestic flights (including to French overseas departments) and European flights, the tax rate will rise from €2.63 to €9.50 for Economy and Premium cabins, and from €20.27 to €30 for Business and Première cabins.
For flights of less than 5,500 km, the tax will increase from €7 to €15 for the cheapest seats, and up to €80 euros for Business.
For flights over 5,500 km, the tax rises to €120 for the best seats.
Air France has said that if the bill does not pass and the tax does not increase it will refund passengers the difference.
Controversial tax
The TSBA was created in 2005 to help developing countries. It brings in €460 million to the government, the proposed increase could increase this to €1 billion.
Airlines including Air France have said that they regret that the money does not go into investment to make air travel more environmentally friendly.
They also denounce the impact that the taxes will have on travellers' purchasing power and claim that increasing the tax will cause French airlines to be less competitive than their international rivals.
