Air travel in France is gradually recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still has not reached pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, French airports served 205.7 million passengers, marking a 3.6% increase from 2023. However, this number is still about 4% lower than the passenger traffic seen in 2019.
The total number of flights in 2024 reached 1,765,942, which is a 10% decrease compared to previous years, but there was a slight 0.6% increase compared to 2023. Despite the rise in passenger numbers, the total number of flights has dropped by 9%. This decline is partly due to an increase in the average number of passengers per flight, which grew from 107 in 2018 to 117 in 2024. This change is mainly attributed to the growth of budget travel.
Domestic flights in France have seen a 5% decline, while international flights have grown by 6.7%. Budget travel now makes up 44.1% of all air traffic in France, a 1% increase from last year and a 9% increase from 2019. This growth in budget travel continues to be a significant factor in the country’s air travel market.
France Lags Behind Other European Countries
While some European countries are seeing strong increases in air travel, France is struggling to catch up. Overall air traffic in the European Union has increased by 1.8% compared to 2019, but France is still behind. Countries like Turkey (+23.1%) and Greece (+22.1%) are experiencing rapid growth, while France, along with Germany (-16.1%) and Belgium (-2%), is showing slower recovery. In contrast, countries like Italy (+17%), Spain (+13%), and Portugal (+17%) are seeing much stronger recoveries.
In 2024, the air travel recovery in France is uneven. While some airports, such as Marseille and Beauvais, are showing growth, many others are still feeling the lingering effects of the pandemic. The pace of recovery in France is slower compared to southern European countries, where the outlook is more positive.
Rising Taxes Spark Concerns in the Industry
The French Airports Union (UAF) has expressed frustration over rising taxes, which it believes are hindering the recovery of the air transport sector. Recent increases in taxes, such as the solidarity ticket tax (TSBA) and the safety and security fee (T2S), are expected to further hurt the industry and could lead low-cost airlines to reduce their French routes.
Budget airlines play a crucial role in French air traffic, accounting for 44.1% of the total in 2024, a significant rise from 2019. In regional airports like Paris-Beauvais, Carcassonne, Béziers, and Nîmes, budget carriers handle over 99% of the traffic. With tax increases continuing, airlines such as Ryanair have warned that they may cut back on flights to France.
Thomas Juin, president of the UAF, strongly criticized the rising taxes. “If we were trying to put air transport in France in jeopardy, we couldn’t do it any other way,” he said. He argued that the taxes are primarily being used to fill the state’s budget deficit, rather than supporting the growth of the aviation sector or environmental efforts. He added, “By using air transport as a tool to balance budgets, France seems determined to shrink its aviation sector,” which could have negative consequences for tourism and the broader economy.
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