The “solidarity tax” is set to significantly increase on March 1, 2025.

After months of delays, the government of France is poised to increase ticket taxes on airline flights to, from, or within the country as early as next month. 

France has imposed a “solidarity tax” (Taxe de Solidarité sur les Billets d’Avion – TSBA) on airline tickets since 2006, but the TBSA is set to significantly increase on March 1, 2025. For economy class tickets on short flights within France or Europe, the tax will increase from €2.63 to €7.40. For business class, the tax is €30.90. Longer economy flights will see new tax amounts ranging from €15 – €40, while business and first class will pay €120 per ticket.

Private jets will pay the most, with taxes of €2,100 for long-haul flights. 

Flights to the island of Corsica, and French overseas territories, including Mayotte, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and French Polynesia will be exempt from the tax increases. 

The taxes were originally introduced to fund international aid programs and were extended in 2020 for environmental reasons in the hopes that higher taxes would drive down demand for air travel and its subsequent carbon emissions. Now, it’s a combination of environmental concerns and a large budget shortfall that are driving the tax increase.

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The increase had originally been proposed last fall, but was shelved following the collapse of the Barnier government after a vote of no confidence in early December in the National Assembly. A new government was appointed by the end of December and has since begun returning to much of the legislation that was tabled by the government change. 

Airlines, of course, aren’t happy. Air France has estimated the increase will cost them €100M, and compromise the competitive position of France as an aviation hub, allowing Air France to lose market share to other European competitors. The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair threatened last fall to end service at ten French Airports if the tax increase is ultimately passed. Ryanair serves 22 airports in France. 

Air France had already begun collecting the higher taxes from October 24, but suspended the practice after the government collapse in December, when the tax hike was ultimately not implemented by the original deadline. The French state owns 28% of Air France parent Air France-KLM, while The Netherlands owns 9%. 

In spite of Air France’s protests, it’s worth noting that other European countries (with whom France competes for air traffic) are also planning increases to passenger taxes. The United Kingdom proposed a tax increase set to take effect in 2024, with a further increase annually through 2026. 

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and France’s national aviation union (FNAM) also condemned the tax increase, saying that the taxes on aviation are already high. The FNAM also criticized the government for increasing the taxes without conducting and economic impact study. 

Amélie de Montchalin, France’s minister for public accounts, explained that the tax increase is a solidarity measure—essentially a luxury tax: “Twenty per cent of the population with the highest income is responsible for more than half the money spent on air travel.”

Many EU countries levy taxes on air passengers. Belgium, Denmark, and Bulgaria have plans to introduce the taxes. But other countries, specifically Spain, Portugal, and much of Eastern Europe continue to allow air passengers to travel without similar taxes added to the cost of their ticket. 

Travelers won’t need to do anything extra to pay the taxes; they’ll be collected as part of the ticket taxes that airlines collect within the total ticket price. 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global airline trade association, estimates the aviation industry directly supports just under 5% of France’s GDP and is responsible for supporting some 1.3 million jobs. France is a major base for European commercial plane maker Airbus, which is headquartered near Toulouse.

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