France has banned short-haul flights, but will it make an impact?
In a bid to cut carbon emissions, France has officially banned domestic short-haul flights for journeys where train alternatives are in place.
The ban was formally signed into law Tuesday and comes two years after lawmakers voted to end domestic flight routes where a train alternative that takes less than 2 1/2 hours is in operation.
Currently, only commercial flights must adhere to the ban, and private jets will reportedly be unaffected by the restrictions.
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"This is an essential step and a strong symbol in the policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions," France's transport minister Clement Beaune said in a statement.
"As we fight relentlessly to decarbonize our lifestyles, how can we justify the use of the plane between the big cities which benefit from regular, fast and efficient connections by train."
For an air route to qualify for the ban, as stipulated by the EU, there must be a high-speed rail service between the start and end destinations that takes less than 2 1/2 hours.
Trains must also run both early and late enough for travelers to spend at least eight hours at their destination.
Presently the only three routes due to be affected are between Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) and Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD), and Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) and Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE). Connecting flights will be unaffected.
Early proposals were much stricter and looked to ban routes serviced by train alternatives under four hours. Following backlash from the Union of French Airports (UAF) and the European branch of the Airports Council International (ACI Europe), the European Commission intervened and laid out the current stipulations of the ban in December 2022.
Other routes considered but later removed from the order included Paris Charles de Gaulle to Bordeaux, Lyon and Rennes, and Lyon to Marseille. These routes are currently exempt due to their train routes not fitting the parameters required by the EU. The routes could be added to the ban at a later date should rail services improve.
Related: Is climate change leading to more turbulence on flights?
While the law came into effect Tuesday, it had earlier been included in a 2021 climate law and was already operating in principle after the French government secured the compliance of its flag carrier Air France following a 7-billion-euro COVID-19 support package.
Following the bailout, Air France was tasked with making their operations more sustainable and agreed to reduce short-haul domestic routes. At the time, other airlines banned from stepping up services to fill the gap questioned the legality of the proposals with the European Commission.
Related: How to calculate your carbon footprint when you travel
According to French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir, plane journeys emit 77 times more carbon dioxide per passenger than train journeys on routes less than 2 1/2 hours and are, on average, only 40 minutes faster.
Critics of the new ruling claim that the 2 1/2-hour stipulations and a small number of affected routes make the ban largely symbolic. According to estimates by the transport campaign group Transport & Environment, the three routes will represent just 0.3% of flight emissions in mainland France and just 3% of the country's domestic flight emissions.
Lashing out at the ban, interim head of Airlines for Europe A4E Laurent Donceel told French news organization AFP that governments should instead focus on "real and significant solutions" to aviation emissions, adding that "banning these trips will only have minimal effects" on CO2 output.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.