Bad news for Moroccan travelers in France

The French National Assembly has approved an increase in the tax on airline tickets, following the proposal of the government led by Michel Barnier. This new tax, planned to last one year, aims to generate one billion euros to support public finances. However, overseas regions and Corsica will benefit from an exemption. This measure raises concerns about its impact on air fares between France and Morocco, a subject of great importance for the Moroccan community residing in France.

A temporary but significant increase

The vote in favor of this increase took place on Friday, winning a majority of 99 votes against 78. The Barnier government hopes to strengthen the national budget, but the duration of application was limited to one year, and only certain French regions in metropolis will be affected. Elected officials hope to moderate the economic consequences of this measure on travelers and air transport companies, especially in this period of crisis for the French air sector.

The general director of the company “Air France-KLM”, Benjamin Smith, reacted to this announcement by emphasizing the importance of the exemption granted to overseas regions and Corsica. According to him, this decision reflects an awareness of the risks that this tax could pose to the competitiveness of French airlines. Indeed, the airline sector is already going through economic difficulties, and an increase in prices could make flights less attractive for passengers.

Mixed reactions from airline sector players

The National Federation of Merchant Aviation (FNAM) welcomed the amendments that were made to the initial project. She considers that the limited duration of this tax and the regional exemptions demonstrate an understanding of the challenges posed by this measure. However, the FNAM remains opposed to the “Chirac” tax and believes that this increase was decided without prior consultation or impact study. She fears that this measure will harm the competitiveness of French aviation.

Furthermore, the National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL) strongly condemned this decision. The union estimates that the tax increase could cause a loss of tens of thousands of jobs in France. As a sign of protest, the SNPL even announced a strike planned for November 14, thus demonstrating its disagreement with a decision deemed unfavorable to workers in the sector.

The consequences for Moroccan travelers

For Moroccans residing in France, this increase could complicate their travel between France and Morocco, particularly during peak periods. Ticket prices, already high in peak season, could rise further, making travel less accessible for many families.

In conclusion, this increase in the tax on plane tickets could have mixed effects: beneficial for public finances, it could however threaten the competitiveness of French airlines and impact Moroccan travelers, a community strongly linked to French air links. -Moroccan.

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