So, France is ready to stop short-haul flights. The approval of the European Commission has been received, so all that remains is to sign the documents, and the first three routes from the secondary airport of Paris Orly to Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nantes will be closed forever.
Interestingly, the ban applies to flights to Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nantes from Orly, meaning passengers can still reach these regional capitals from Paris’ main Charles de Gaulle airport. Thus, it is still possible to travel domestically by plane, although traveling on a fast and convenient high-speed train is almost certainly faster and more comfortable. So, from the Gare de Lyon in the center of Paris, it is possible to get to most cities in the south in just a couple of hours.
So who needs this ban?
As part of the 2021 climate legislation, France was one of the first to propose a ban on domestic flights where equivalent train journeys of less than two and a half hours are available. This policy has now been approved by the European Commission.
In almost 40 years of operation, the TGV high-speed train network in France has expanded to cover the north, south, east, and west, that is, all directions in the country. Trains between major urban centers are frequent, convenient, and inexpensive, meaning that most long-distance commuters are already accustomed to traveling by carriage.
To fly, you must first get from the center of Paris to the airport, go through check-in, and security control, stand in line at the gate before departure, and taxi to the runway. This is not to mention possible delays due to weather conditions. For a similar period, you can certainly have time to arrive at the central station of your destination, admiring the beautiful French landscapes from the expansive windows of a high-speed train.
How much are SNCF high-speed train tickets?
Tickets for low-cost high-speed Ouigo (pronounced “we go”) trains from Paris to Lyon start at just 10 euros. This, of course, without a large suitcase, and prior seat selection.
The second – standard – class in regular high-speed TGV trains, also called input (“in we”), has advanced features. Here you can take a larger suitcase and choose a seat in the car.
First class on a regular TGV train, which is very affordable, especially when compared to business class on an airplane, offers larger seats with extra legroom and more comfort.
On some routes it is possible to use the night train – Intercité de Nuit) – or slower regular trains called Intercités. Ouigo also offers these conventional trains on several routes, including to the Loire Valley with its famous wine-producing towns and castles, and to the Burgundy wine region.
What will happen next?
The move was strongly opposed by the trade associations of French and European airports, but their opinion was not heeded.
The European Commission has approved a ban on three flights from Orly, although it was planned to cover a total of eight routes. The five internal directions remain: between Charles de Gaulle and Lyon, Rennes, Bordeaux, and Nantes; and between Marseille and Lyon.
They either do not pass in length: they last just over two and a half hours, or they do not have enough rail traffic during the day to meet the agreed criteria. True, experts have no doubt: such restrictions will be expanded, the maximum travel time by rail will be increased from 2.5 to 4 hours, and more routes will receive modern rails and infrastructure.