The European Commission has approved France’s proposed ban on short-haul domestic flights. The move will mean the discontinuation of flights between French cities that are already connected via rail with train trips of under 2.5 hours.
The changes will be included under France’s 2021 Climate Law. This marks the first time such an article has been implemented by an E.U. member country.
At first, the ban will only affect routes that previously operated between Orly Airport and Nantes, as well as Lyon and Bordeaux. Connecting flights will be bound by the same rules.
Following the approval of this new environmental policy last December, both the Union of French Airports (UAF) and the European branch of the Airports Council International (ACI Europe) battled the bill, causing the European Commission to launch an in-depth investigation into whether implementation of the measures should ultimately be allowed.
While the law was technically adopted last year, it will take some time before the ban actually comes into effect.
