The National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL) calls a strike on Thursday, November 14, it informed Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday, November 10. At the same time, the SNPL calls for a demonstration in front of the National Assembly following the vote by deputies in favor of an increase in taxes on air transport.
“Given the government’s desire to withdraw an additional billion a year from the aviation sector, we call on pilots, but also all employees in the sector, to mobilize on November 14”declared a spokesperson for the ultra-majority pilots union. “We call for a demonstration near the National Assembly at the end of the morning”we add.
Deputies, who are examining the draft budget for 2025, approved on Friday the increase in taxes on air transport proposed by the Government, limiting its duration to one year and excluding Overseas and Corsica from the system. This amendment is supposed to increase taxes on air transport by one billion euros and will come into force on 1Ahem January 2025.
Specifically, this system will increase tax rates on airline tickets. For flights in economy class, the increase will be from 2.60 euros to 9.50 euros per passenger for a European destination, from 7.50 euros to 15 euros for intermediate destinations, and from 7.50 euros to 40 euros for destinations distant, according to the general budget rapporteur, Carlos de Courson.
Occupational risk, according to the unions
On Friday afternoon, the general director of Air France-KLM, Benjamin Smith, reaffirmed his opposition and considered that, by excluding the overseas territories and Corsica from this tax increase, the deputies had “recognized” the risks of such a measure for “the competitiveness of French companies”.
The SNPL denounces “Triple this tax without consulting the actors in the sector”. “While many players in the aviation sector are only just recovering from the prolonged effects of the Covid-19 crisis period, this additional imposition will ultimately lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in France”says the union, which asks the Government to back down.
On Sunday, the delegate minister responsible for Transport, François Durovray, defended this tax increase on Franceinfo: “This tax has, at the same time, the virtue of contributing to the cleanliness of the State’s accounts, but also an environmental objective” due to carbon emissions from aviation.
calling “work for a virtuous system”estimated that this tax could incentivize airlines “put more sustainable fuel in airplanes”welcoming the efforts already undertaken by the French aeronautical industry, but without moving in any direction regarding the availability of sustainable fuel.
