France cancels domestic flights to reduce CO2 emissions

France is banning short-haul flights in the country as it tries to reduce CO2 emissions from transport, the Ministry of Ecology and transport informs.

This week, a French ban on domestic short-haul flights if there are alternative trips came into force.

The law, published on the Ministry's website, essentially prohibits public domestic flights between French destinations if a train ride lasting less than 2 hours and 30 minutes is available.

France has a fairly extensive network of high-speed railways. Flight replacement is only applicable if the trip "has a satisfactory alternative service".

This means that public passenger flights between Paris-Orly and cities such as Bordeaux, Nantes and Lyon are subject to the law. This does not affect connecting flights.

Transport Minister Clement Bohn described this decision as "an important step and a strong symbol in greenhouse gas reduction policies."

The Minister also said that this ban was "the first in the world that fully complies with the government's policy to encourage the use of modes of transport that emit less greenhouse gases."

The news from France came amid a discussion about salaries for using private jets. In March 2023, an analysis published by Greenpeace showed that the number of private jet flights in Europe last year increased by 64% to a record level.

Earlier, the World Wildlife Fund described the environmental impact of aviation as "one of the fastest growing greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change".

WWF also claims that air travel "is currently the most carbon-intensive activity that a person can do."

Thus, the use of private jets by high-ranking rich people causes a lot of discussion.

Airlines around the world have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the website Flightradar24 reports that last year the number of flights decreased by almost 42% compared to 2019.

Last month, the EU agreed on new rules requiring airlines to use more environmentally friendly fuels and reduce emissions, which will inevitably lead to higher air ticket prices or reduced number of flights. The European Commission, which is the bloc's executive body, said an agreement reached by EU member states and the European Parliament requires suppliers to mix eco-friendly aviation fuel with kerosene in increasing quantities from 2025.