France bans short-haul flights in favour of train travel

FRANCE has been given the go-ahead to ban short-haul domestic flights.

The European Commission has approved the move which will abolish flights between cities that are linked by a train journey of less than two-and-ahalf hours.

It will put an end to flights between Paris Orly airport and the cities of Nantes, Bordeaux and Lyon.

The final number of axed flights stops short of the eight routes French MPS had proposed to cut under its 2021 climate law. If rail services improve more routes could join the list.

“This is a major step forward and I am proud that France is a pioneer in this area,” said Clément Beaune, France’s transport minister.

Climate activists and Green party politicians similarly welcomed the ban, but said it was a “baby step” in the larger fight against climate change and reducing CO2 emissions in Europe.

“The French ban on short-haul flights where quick train connections exist is a baby step, but it’s one in the right direction,” said Thomas Gelin of Greenpeace.

Karima Delli a French Green MEP applauded the “victory” but said the legislation should have been extended to cover flights that could be replaced by a four-hour train journey.

It will still take several months for the ban to come into force.

Some European MPS hope the law will expand to routes across the continent as new high-speed rail lines are constructed.

While the current rail journey between Paris and Milan, for example, takes more than seven hours, the opening of the new 36-mile Mont Cenis base tunnel will cut the travelling time in half.