Airlines and airports react with dismay to new French government proposals to raise aviation tax

Airlines for Europe (A4E) and Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), representing European airlines and airports, have reacted with dismay to the French Government’s plan to raise aviation tax. The proposals intend to raise €1b as a quick fix to address the nation’s rising debt. A4E and ACI Europe are urging the French Government to reconsider these plans. Ourania Georgoutsakou, A4E Managing Director said: “This proposal to increase French aviation taxes would be counterproductive, would fragment the single aviation market and would undermine the competitiveness of French aviation. Any short-term revenue gains the government expects would be far outweighed by reduced connectivity, poorer consumer welfare and would set back aviation’s decarbonisation efforts. Diverting funds from the industry through increased taxes ultimately means less investment in crucial decarbonisation measures.”

What negatives would an aviation tax bring?

• The significant damages these tax increases would inflict not just on the country’s aviation sector, but also on the national economy, its competitive position and attractiveness – noting such damages would end up cascading down on the country’s citizens.
• The hurdles these tax increases will create for the effective decarbonisation of aviation by reducing the ability of the sector to finance related investments.

  A4E and ACI EUROPE also pointed to the precedents of countries such as Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, and just recently Sweden backtracking and abolishing or reducing their aviation taxes due to the negative spillover effect on their economies.

  Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE said: “Raising aviation taxes is the poster child of short-term thinking in politics. If confirmed, this new plan would inadvertently weaken the competitiveness of French aviation, penalise citizens and, ultimately reduce the sector’s economic contribution. As we have repeatedly pointed out, every 10% increase in direct connectivity leads to a 0.5% rise in GDP per capita. The French Government would de facto choose quick cash over durable economic competitiveness. This plan is even more concerning given the aviation sector’s ongoing transformation to meet ambitious net-zero goals – with the recent Draghi report acknowledging that European aviation will need €61b every year to get there. If anything, more financial support from the government is what is required, not additional taxation.”