Airline passenger refunds due as ticket tax rise cancelled by French government fall

Airline passengers who bought a ticket for a flight after January 1 are set to receive refunds for the portion of the ticket that was intended to pay the taxe de solidarité sur les billets d’avion (TSBA), also known as the Chirac tax. 

This tax was set to dramatically increase according to the new budget but due to the motion de censure passed in parliament, the projet de loi de finances 2025 has been frozen and the tax increase will not be implemented. 

For example, the tax would increase from €2.63 to €9.50 for economy class tickets on European flights to or from France, €7.50 to €15.50 for non-European medium haul destinations and €7.5 to €40 for destinations over 5,500km away. 

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Some airlines, such as Air France, were charging extra for tickets for flights after January 1 in preparation for this tax increase but due to it being cancelled, they have now committed to reimbursing clients for the extra payment. 

Clients can therefore expect refunds of up to €32.50 for economy tickets for long haul destinations and up to €56.93 for first class. 

The tax had been approved almost unanimously in parliament on November 27 but some airlines had been applying the tax since early November in preparation. 

Reimbursement

Air France committed to reimbursements before the increase was abandoned, stating in a press release: “In the event of a change of the scale, or if the amendment is abandoned or rejected, the companies in the group will make an adjustment to ensure that the amount collected is equal to the amount actually due in respect of the TSBA.” 

They also stated “all our customers will be reimbursed”. 

Other airlines include the Air France KLM airlines such as Transavia, Air Caraïbes, French Bee and Corsair. 

A Corsair spokesperson stated “it will be lifting the application of the tax” and “we are committed to reimbursing our clients for the overpayment.” 

The Fédération Nationale de l’Aviation et de ses Métiers (national federation for aviation and its occupations) is expected to publish a common position for all of its members very soon. 

Clear details on how these refunds will take place from airlines will be announced in the coming days. 

Raising one billion

The increase in the tax was intended to raise €1 billion. 

Air France KLM estimated that this would increase the level of taxation by €280 million and cost them between €90 and €170 million in operating income. 

All airlines were against this increase, or this level of increase, including Ryanair who threatened to close French flights due to the increased cost. 

““We will be closing these routes because, with this tax, they are not economically viable,” said Jason McGuinness, managing director of Ryanair in a press release.

Read more: Ryanair threatens to end flights to ten regional French airports over tax plan