The French Transport Minister, Clement Beaune, has announced plans to seek support from other European Union countries for a minimum price on flights within Europe. The aim is to reduce the aviation sector’s impact on climate change.
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However, the proposal could face opposition from EU countries, including island nations that rely heavily on air transport and regions with tourism sectors boosted by low-cost flights. Beaune has stated that the aim is not to drastically increase ticket prices, but to initiate a discussion on the fair social and environmental price of a flight ticket.
Some EU countries, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, have expressed support for the idea in principle. Austria had previously suggested a minimum price but encountered legal complexities. Talks among EU countries on a proposal to tax polluting aviation fuel have also hit an impasse. The EU already has measures in place to reduce the environmental impact of flying, such as higher prices for carbon emissions.
A minimum ticket price could impact the business model of low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair, which offers some of the cheapest fares in Europe. Ryanair has already closed a two-aircraft base in Brussels due to increased charges and taxes. Departing flights accounted for around 5% of Europe’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.