Flight costs from France to rise as government more than doubles air tax

The cost of flights from France will rise next month when the government more than doubles its “solidarity tax” on tickets. The French government has said the increases are fair on ecological and fiscal grounds but critics say it will hit France’s ability to compete globally. Airlines are expected to pass the cost of the tax hike on to passengers but Air France has estimated it will cost the company about E100m at a time when the airline is recovering from Covid losses. Ryanair has threatened to reduce flights to and from the country’s airports. The cost of flights from France will rise next month when the government more than doubles its “solidarity tax” on tickets. The French government has said the increases are fair on ecological and fiscal grounds but critics say it will hit France’s ability to compete globally. Airlines are expected to pass the cost of the tax hike on to passengers but Air France has estimated it will cost the company about €100m (£83m) at a time when the airline is recovering from Covid losses. Ryanair has threatened to reduce flights to and from the country’s airports. Income from the new rates of “airline ticket solidarity tax”, also called the Chirac tax after the former president who introduced it in 2006 to fund international aid programmes, is expected to more than double to almost E1b a year.<br/>