In bid to check carbon footprint, France bans short domestic flights

The measure is part of a broader climate bill that aims to cut French carbon emissions by 40% in 2030 from 1990 levels.

French lawmakers voted late on Saturday to abolish domestic flights on routes that can be covered by train in under two-and-a-half hours, as the government seeks to lower carbon emissions even as the air travel industry reels from the global pandemic. The measure is part of a broader climate bill that aims to cut French carbon emissions by 40% in 2030 from 1990 levels, though activists accuse President Emmanuel Macron of watering down earlier promises in the draft legislation. The vote came days after the state said it would contribute to a 4 billion euro ($4.76 billion) recapitalisation of Air France, more than doubling its stake in the flagcarrier, to shore up its finances after over a year of COVID-19 travel curbs.