French government seeks to lower CO2 emissions and fight climate change lawmakers have voted to abolish domestic flights on routes than can be covered by train in under two-and-a-half hours. Part of a broader climate bill that aims to cut French carbon emissions by 40% in 2030 from 1990 levels, came days after the state said it would contribute to a €4 billion recapitalization of Air France, more than doubling its stake in the flag carrier, to shore up its finances after over a year of COVID-19 travel curbs.
Criticism from the aviation industry that a recovery from COVID-19 that has crippled airlines was not the time to ban some domestic flights, there was no contradiction between the bailout and the climate bill. The ban, a watered-down version of a key recommendation citizens’ climate convention was adopted, noting that it will mean the end of short internal flights from Orly airport, south of Paris, to Nantes and Bordeaux among others, though connecting flights through Charles de Gaulle/Roissy airport, north of the French capital, will continue.