France Eliminates Domestic Air Travel

Last month France made a major change to the way families travel around the country. After several years of planning and discussion, officials signed into law a ban on certain domestic flights within the country. The ban comes on the heels of a larger 2021 law aimed at fighting climate change, in line with France’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent over the next seven years.

The decision went into effect at the end of May. It doesn’t affect all domestic flights, just those between cities that can be reached in 2.5 hours or less by train. Flights affected so far are those running from Paris-Orly Airport to the cities of Lyon, Nantes and Bordeaux. The move will not only help reduce the harmful effects air travel has on the environment, but will also undoubtedly boost train travel, giving tourists a more intimate look at the countryside as they travel between destinations.

For families worried this will impact their travels to France, there is actually little to worry about. Train travel is not only a fun way for families to get around (it’s usually a fan favorite for kids), but the extra time it takes to get between destinations by train is also often equal to or less than the time that would be spent flying (when you account for security and early arrival requirements).

While this move by France is not a cure-all for the effects air travel has on the environment, this ban on some short domestic flights is a step in the right direction. It makes France, an ever-popular tourist destination, even more appealing for anyone looking to leave a smaller carbon footprint, and gets travelers and governments thinking about ways in which we can enjoy the world we inhabit without continuing to harm it.