French Pilot Strike Threatens Flights to Morocco Amid Airline Tax Dispute

The aviation unions, including the SNPL, are concerned about the consequences of this tax on the competitiveness of French companies. They are organizing a rally in front of the National Assembly this Thursday at 11am to make their demands heard. "The proceeds of this tax are not intended to finance the environmental transition of the sector, protests Antoine Godier, spokesperson for the SNPL, the government must hear our arguments."

Concretely, this tax, which will come into effect on January 1, 2025, will affect all passengers departing from metropolitan France, with the exception of flights to the Overseas Territories and Corsica. The amount will vary depending on the destination and travel class. For example, for an economy class flight to a European destination, the tax will increase from €2.60 to €9.50.

While the government sees this tax as a way to replenish the state’s coffers, industry professionals fear a drop in traffic and job losses. The National Federation of Aviation and its Professions (FNAM) and the Union of French Airports (UAF) estimate that 11,500 jobs could be threatened.

This strike could have repercussions on flights to Morocco. Although these airlines plan to operate almost all of their flights, delays or schedule changes are possible.

Airlines operating mainly to the Overseas Territories and Corsica, not affected by the tax hike, should not be impacted.

For the SNPL, the objective of this mobilization is above all to alert the government to the risks of this measure. "We are not in conflict with our employer," the SNPL spokesperson recalls, "we are fighting against the government." The battle of wills is therefore launched between the pilots and the executive.