Airlines

France Implements Ban On Short Flights For Journeys Possible In Under 2.5 Hours By Train

France has formally banned domestic flying for trains that take less than 2.5 hours to complete the journey. This restriction has long been in effect and was just made public by a government decree on Tuesday.

Only three routes—those connecting Paris-Orly Airport with the cities of Bordeaux, Nantes, and Lyon—have been eliminated. There won’t be any impact on subsequent flights.

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The EU stipulated that the air route in question have a high-speed train alternative that allows passengers to travel between the two cities in less than two and a half hours for the ban to be effective. Additionally, there needs to be enough early and late trains to let passengers to arrive at their destination for at least eight hours.

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In order to fully serve the demands of customers who may not prefer to travel by air, the law stipulates that train services on the same route must be frequent, reliable, and well-connected. To be in compliance with the rules, travelers must be able to take the outbound and return train excursions on the same day, giving them around eight hours to spend at their destination.

To fight climate change, France bans domestic flights where cities are linked by train with a journey time of two and a half hours or less. Will mean flights between Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux and Lyons will be shut down.

Is the first country in the world to introduce such a ban. https://t.co/3gxePk9Py1
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) May 23, 2023

The action has been taken in an effort to lower CO2 emissions in Europe. Governments should support “real and significant solutions” to aircraft emissions rather than “symbolic bans,” according to Laurent Donceel, interim president of the industry association Airlines for Europe (A4E).” Banning these trips will only have minimal effects” on CO2 output, as per findings from Brussels.

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Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.