Small French airports are worried

“Lyon-Madrid flights at only 70 euros”, “escape in New York at broken prices” … As public holidays approach, air carriers are increasing seduction operations. But with the increase on March 1 of the solidarity tax on March 1, which applies to flights from France, prices should climb and slow down the ardors of travelers. The objective of the State? Limit air transport, particularly polluting.

On the tarmac of airports, the discontent rises, organizations in the sector denounces an “economically irresponsible” measure. And who, for RN deputies will have the effect of “murdering French companies” and “penalizing the attractiveness of destination France”.

For flights inside Europe, it goes from 2.63 euros to 7.40 euros in economy class. For long letters, like the Paris-New York, it leaps, from 7.51 euros to 40 euros. Low-cost companies could stop serving lines, like Ryanair. The Irish company threatens to withdraw from ten French local airports and to reopen links in Portugal or Spain, where taxation is more lenient.

“Without companies like Ryanair, small airports could not survive, while they strongly contribute to the tourist and economic attractiveness of cities,” says Thomas June, president of the Union of French Airports (UAF). The one he directs-La Rochelle-Île-de-Ré (Charente-Maritime)-conducted an investigation into the spending of passengers staying in the region.

In 2024, they amounted to 42 million euros, housing, transport or leisure including. Problem: these surveys include many biases because they are carried out by audit firms at the request of these modest airports, which have every interest in justifying their existence. Reliably measuring the impact of air transport for the local economy is therefore not obvious.

“Caprices of local elected officials”

Especially since French airports are far from all profitable. In a 2023 report, the Court of Auditors identified more than 70 structures, including a good thirty too little frequented to reach financial balance. It is the important subsidies of the state that keep them alive, points out the institution.

“If certain lines allow you to open up isolated territories, such as Paris – Aurillac, in Cantal, others are whims of local elected officials,” says Alexis Chailloux, transport manager of the Action Climate. They see the plane as a prestige brand for their city. On February 17, the Pau – Paris -Orly connection was freshly rehabilitated, at the request of François Bayrou. However, it had been interrupted in October because of its deficit of three million euros annually. The Prime Minister assumes having used his influence to allow local entrepreneurs to quickly link the capital. But Béarnais airport already offers flights to Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and that of Tarbes is less than fifty kilometers away, by road.

* This tax, set up by Jacques Chirac in 2006, aims to finance international aid programs.