France is aiming to cut down on its carbon footprint in a big way, and it will drastically change how travelers get around the European country.
Although France isn’t particularly large, it’s a sizeable enough country that it has the option of getting to certain areas via a domestic flight. Until now, that is. In a bid to cut down C02 emissions, the French government has decided to cancel domestic flights on routes where there is a train ride alternative.
The move, which was brought about at the Citizens’ Climate Convention, was approved by the European Commission on the condition that several direct, high-speed rail connections that are shorter than 2.5 hours are available. At present, high-speed lines exist between major cities like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Lille.
The new ban is set to affect the routes between Paris Orly Airport and Bordeaux, Nantes, and Lyon. In future, domestic flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Rennes and Lyon, as well as between Lyon and Marseille, could also be prohibited should rail services improve.
The air travel ban will be in effect for three years and reviewed after two.