France brings in watered-down ban on short-haul domestic flights

France brings in watered-down ban on short-haul domestic flights that can be replaced by train journeys under 2.5 hours, in a policy aimed at cutting aviation emissions but limited in scope. The ban took effect on Tuesday under a new government decree, but the conditions are strict: the train option must be direct, frequent, and provide “satisfactory service,” enabling travelers to return the same day after at least eight hours at their destination. Services must also operate year-round at an “affordable” cost, though no price cap is set. As a result, only three routes qualify for cancellation: Paris Orly to Bordeaux, Nantes, or Lyon. Flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to those cities remain allowed, and other markets such as Paris Charles de Gaulle to Rennes and Lyon to Marseille continue operating. The measure is valid for three years, and airlines and climate groups have signaled potential legal challenges as the EU previously approved it with that expiry.