France’s plan to ban short-haul domestic flights wins EU approval

TheThe European Commission has approved France’s plan to ban short-haul flights when there’s a decent rail alternative — but it will only affect three routes, reports Politico.

French lawmakers in 2021 voted to prohibit short-haul domestic flights when there’s an alternative rail connection of two and a half hours or less. The original proposal, which required the green light from Brussels, was slated to affect eight routes.

Now the Commission has said the ban can only take place if there are genuine rail alternatives available for the same route — meaning several direct connections each way every day.

That means only three routes will currently fall under the ban: journeys between Paris-Orly and Bordeaux, Nantes and Lyon. 

Read more of this report from Politico.