Aviation
Commercial /
Europe
Ecological changes?
France chooses to use trains instead of short-haul domestic flights
Airbus A330
Air france
Por Aldo Bidini, GFDL 1.2.
Rafael Ramos
4/14/2021
The French parliament has decided to ban short-haul domestic flights that can be replaced by train journeys that take less than two and a half hours.
The climate change committee created by Emmanuel Macron had originally recommended banning any flight on French territory that could be replaced by a train journey of up to four hours.
The measure generated a lot of debate, since environmentalists wanted the proposal to follow the text in its entirety, with the suspension of all flights that had the alternative of train travel with up to four hours in duration. However, airlines, such as Air France-KLM, made strong objections to the measure, mainly because they are already severely affected by the restrictions imposed by the covid-19.
Trens substituirão aviões?
Markus Winkler/Unsplah
The measure is part of a bill that provides for a 40% reduction in the country's carbon emissions by 2030. The proposal must be sanctioned by the president.
The trip between Paris and Lyon can be done in less than two hours on the train and should be prohibited on direct flights, as well, as connections between the French capital and Nantes. In return, flights with connections connecting these cities can be made.
"We chose two and a half hours because at four hours there was a risk of isolating landlocked territories, which would be unfair," said French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
As the proposal became less extensive, the French agency UFC-Que Choisir said that, on average, airplanes emit 77 times more CO2 per passenger than a train on routes of up to four hours.
A year ago, the French government agreed to offer a 7 billion euro loan to Air France-KLM, but the company would have to cancel some internal flights. However, the new decree will also prevent other airlines from flying on these routes.
Another issue debated was the possible increase in unemployment in the sector and the greatest difficulty in recovering companies that have already been so badly affected by the pandemic.
While the presidential sanction has not yet been made, Air France continues to market short domestic flights.
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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