If Spain wants to introduce a short-haul flight ban, here’s how to avoid the traps of France’s ban

Introduction

France made headlines earlier this year by implementing a ban on certain short-haul flights. Now, Spain is considering a similar ban as it forms a new coalition. However, a closer look at France's ban reveals some limitations. In order for Spain to avoid these pitfalls, here's what they need to know.

The Details of France's Ban

The ban in France only applies to three specific routes: Paris Orly-Nantes, Paris Orly-Lyon, and Paris Orly-Bordeaux. It is limited for two reasons. First, it only applies if a train journey is 2 hours and 30 minutes or less (green groups had pushed for a 4-hour limit). Second, there is a specific exemption in the law that states the journey must be between stations serving the same cities as the airports. This means that the TGV station at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is the point of reference, not stations in Paris.

Applying the Lessons to Spain

The draft coalition deal in Spain indicates a desire to reduce domestic flights on routes where there is a rail alternative lasting less than 2.5 hours. However, the agreement is unclear about flights connecting to international routes. It remains to be seen how this aspect will be implemented in practice.

Train Times in Spain

The best train times in Spain are as follows: Madrid-Valencia (1 hour 49 minutes), Madrid-Alicante (2 hours 20 minutes), Madrid-Barcelona (2 hours 30 minutes), Madrid-Sevilla (2 hours 33 minutes), and Madrid-Málaga (2 hours 36 minutes). Unfortunately, two significant routes fall just short of the ban's time limit.

The Devil is in the Detail

It's important to note that the agreement in Spain states "less than 2.5 hours," which means flights lasting 2 hours and 29 minutes would not be affected. If the agreement stated "2.5 hours or less," then the ban would apply. It remains to be seen if Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, can shave off a few minutes from these routes.

A Potential Loophole

There are plans to run AVE trains to Barajas Airport in Madrid from next year. If the same rules regarding airport stations are applied in Spain as they are in France, there may be no flight ban for the popular Madrid-Barcelona route.

Conclusion

While the PSOE-Sumar agreement in Spain is a step forward, the effectiveness of any flight ban will depend on the details and a matter of minutes. It remains to be seen if Spain will closely replicate the French law or find its own path forward.

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By: Jon Worth
Title: If Spain wants to introduce a short-haul flight ban, here’s how to avoid the traps of France’s ban
Sourced From: jonworth.eu/if-spain-wants-to-introduce-a-short-haul-flight-ban-heres-how-to-avoid-the-traps-of-frances-ban/
Published Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2023 18:51:13 +0000