Air transport: FNAM calls for a tax break

At the FNAM annual congress, Pascal de Izaguirre denounced the fragility of France's airline offer. Faced with a tax increase and a heavy worrying situationThe sector is calling for an immediate pause to ensure competitiveness and stability. The impact of the solidarity tax on tickets is accentuating the extra cost of air transport, weakening its prospects. The appeal is to preserve the common good that is air transport. Supported by the tourism industry, the message aims to create a climate that is conducive to ecological transition and national sovereignty. This plea brings together all the professionals involved.

At its annual conference, held against a difficult backdrop, the FNAM brought together nearly 200 air industry specialists, public decision-makers, elected representatives and experts. The gathering, held at the DGAC headquarters in Paris, highlighted concerns about the future of the French air transport supply stalls. Faced with a situation marked by tensions surrounding the air traffic controllers' strike, the FNAM president asserted the need to preserve the air transport as a common good to be decarbonized and economically supported.

A worrying context for air travel

The situation is further exacerbated by the unfavorable trend in air travel in France, which is experiencing a modest growth of movements compared with other European markets. In 2024, growth was limited to 2 %, making France one of the least dynamic markets. This situation has led to a reduced summer supply for 2025, positioning the country as a flyover rather than a served nation, and relegating France to 6th place among nations in terms of air service.

The impact of tariffs and tax pressure

After a phase of declining ticket prices at the start of the year, we saw a rise in fares in April and May 2025. This rise, estimated at 5.4 % in April and 1.9 % in May compared with the previous year, is directly linked to the increase in TSBA (solidarity tax on airline tickets). According to the FNAM, the cumulative additional cost for French air transport could reach 1.35 billion euros for the year 2025. Against this backdrop of increased fiscal pressure, the organization is clearly calling for an immediate moratorium on any further tax increases, in order to guarantee the sector's competitiveness.

Unwavering support from the tourism sector

The congress also welcomed representatives from the tourism sector, recalling that theaerial remains an essential link in the national economic dynamic. Personalities such as Valérie Boned, President of Entreprises du Voyage, pointed out that the majority of services sold include an air component, involving numerous jobs in the hotel and travel agency sectors. Similarly, the President of the Confédération des acteurs du tourisme stressed the strategic importance of air transport for the economic attractiveness of the region and for the tourism industry as a whole.

Ecological transition and industrial ambitions

Over and above the economic issues at stake, the congress highlighted the need to integrate air transport fully into our development policies. ecological transition. While the decarbonization effort is largely based on the development of sustainable fuels (CAD), the FNAM calls for a stable and fair regulatory framework to encourage this production. Re-industrialization and sovereignty projects linked to this transformation must not be ignored, underlining the importance of a long-term, coordinated commitment in the face of international competition from mega-airports on Europe's doorstep.

Signs of optimism within the government

In a climate of tension, some positive signs are emerging from the government. Statements made both at the Paris Air Show and in Matignon's offices raised hopes of a forthcoming moderation in the tax burden on the sector. The French Transport Minister, Philippe Tabarot, reaffirmed his commitment to a "single market". competitive and underlined the importance of air transport in connecting regions, supporting trade and promoting excellence on the international stage. These words testify to a desire to balance economic and environmental imperatives, and to ensure the stability that is essential after several years of high fiscal pressure.

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