France plans to put an "ecotax" on almost all air travel: NPR

France plans to put an "ecotax" on almost all flights of airlines from 2020, said Tuesday the French Minister of Transport, Elisabeth Borne. The new tax could bring in about $ 200 million, which would help pay for less polluting modes of transportation, such as the train.

"With the eco-contribution, air transport will help finance the daily transportation of all our citizens," said Borne. said via Twitter. "This is a response to the ecological emergency and the feeling of injustice expressed by the French," she added.

The new tax will not apply to connecting flights or flights landing in France, but only to flights originating from the country. Trips to Corsica and French territories abroad would also be exempt from the tax.

The cost of the green tax would vary depending on the distance traveled and the type of ticket. For example, the price of a domestic flight would increase by just 1.50 euro – about 1.70 dollar. Under the tax, a business class ticket for a flight departing from the European Union would cost 18 euros more, or about 20 dollars.

Taxes on similar airline tickets already exist in other countries. In Germany, a green tax adds between 8 and 45 euros to the ticket price, according to Deutsche Welle. Sweden has announced a similar flight tax in the spring of 2018.

Shortly after the French government unveiled the plan, Air France announced that it "strongly disapproved" of the tax by issuing a statement in which it said the initiative would cost its airlines more than $ 67 million. combined each year. The airline belongs partly to the French government; his group also includes the Dutch airline KLM.

"This measure would be extremely detrimental for Air France, 50% of whose flights are operated outside France, and especially for its domestic network, where losses exceed 180 million euros. [$202 million] in 2018, "said the company.

In response, said Borne, "the French airlines will not suffer any disadvantage", adding that "the arrangements chosen are not intended to penalize them".

The share price of Air France fell after the announcement on Tuesday, ending the day with a 3% drop.

On the world stage, French President Emmanuel Macron's government has played a leading role in the fight against climate change. But Macron also faced criticism and setbacks as his firm tried to adopt new policies.

A gasoline and diesel tax project, for example, provoked a reaction so intense that even after its suspension, a yellow vest or yellow vests Protesters have become a force in the public debate in France about how the government should be run and how people should respond to climate change.