Barthélémy Philippe / Photo credit: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP 14:31 pm, September 28, 2023

The government will tax motorway companies and major French airports at around 5%. A decision that provokes the anger of both sectors, which are preparing their response, but which could also have consequences on travelers and motorists.

This is one of the most controversial measures in the 2024 budget. To finance the ecological transition, the government will tax motorway companies and major French airports. A tax that should bring him 600 million euros per year. Concretely, this tax of about 5% will apply for companies from 120 million euros of turnover. A decision that provokes the anger of the sector that is preparing its response.

"This taxation will lead to an increase in the price of the ticket" of aircraft

The transport companies are up in arms. The Aéroport de Paris group estimates the bill for this new tax at a hundred million euros in 2024 and in the end, it is the users who risk toasting. "Necessarily, this taxation will lead to an increase in the price of the ticket," says Thomas Juin, president of the Union of French airports. "It's obvious since airports will pass on part of this tax on charges and airlines will pass it on to ticket prices so of course there will be an impact on that price."

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Air France denounces a distortion of competition with foreign companies and several companies are considering legal remedies.

Towards an increase in toll rates?

Same concerns on the motorway side: the Eiffage group estimates the bill for this tax at 117 million euros per year and Vinci is threatening a blow of bamboo for motorists. "A tax increase inevitably translates into higher tolls," the group warns. "False," replied Transport Minister Clément Beaune. It recalls that the toll tariff is fixed in the motorway concession contracts signed between the State and the operators.