This article aims to identify the key changes in the solidarity tax structure using data from AirportCharges, the world's largest dataset of airport charges and airport fees, covering more than 3,000 airports. Additionally, the article will provide insights of this tax increase on average fares from France, examining fare trends since the tax was introduced using fare data from Apex, which collects fare data from over 160 airlines worldwide, including major US and European carriers.
Findings
Key Changes in the Solidarity Tax Structure
According to AirportCharges, which details both current and previous tax structures, the earlier system for calculating passenger taxes was based on just two variables, as shown in Table 1. The first variable was the passenger’s destination, categorised as either within France, which included 'Metropolitan France', the 'Départements d'Outre-Mer' (DOM), and the 'Collectivités d'Outre-Mer' (COM), or within the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or destinations located within 1,000 km. Any destination outside these regions was simply classified as ‘other destination.’
The second variable was the travel class, either premium (First or Business) or Economy. This classification led to significant tax differences. For instance, passengers flying in premium classes to destinations outside France or Europe paid over 200% more in taxes compared to those travelling to closer destinations. Similarly, Economy passengers on long-haul routes faced tax differences of over 180%.
Table 1: Solidarity Tax Structure (Before March 2025)
On the other hand, the new tax structure introduces two key concepts. First, it defines a primary reference aerodrome. For flights departing from mainland France, the distance is calculated from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). For flights departing from French overseas territories, the calculation is made from the main airport of the respective territory.
Second, it introduces the concept of the final destination, which is referenced against the main aerodrome of the capital city of the country in which the destination is located. The tax rate is therefore determined by the distance travelled between the primary reference aerodrome and the final destination, creating the distance-based categories shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Destination and Distance Criteria
Furthermore, the new structure changes the concept of passenger cabins for service categories. Economy passengers are classified as "normal," while First, Business, and Premium Economy classes are categorised as "with additional services." It also introduces two categories for Business aviation, classified as Turboprop and Turbojet.
This results in the new solidarity structure shown in Table 3, which leads to a considerable increase in prices for all categories. For example, a passenger traveling in Business to the US who previously paid €63.07 will now need to pay €120.00. Similarly, a passenger travelling in Economy within Europe will need to pay €7.40 instead of €2.63, representing increases of 90% and 185%, respectively.
Table 3: Tax Rates (After March 2025)
Effect on average fares from France
The fare analysis was conducted for flights departing from mainland France; therefore, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is considered the primary reference aerodrome. The analysis uses fares from RDC Apex, which include government taxes, as Apex allows for the inclusion or exclusion of taxes in the fare data.
As Apex’s average fare is calculated based on fares collected from up to 180 days before flight departure until 7 days before departure, the March average fare primarily reflects fares booked before the implementation of the new Solidarity Tax structure. Therefore, March’s average fare shows a -2% decrease rather than an increase. In contrast, the average fare for April has increased by 14%, as shown in Chart 1.
Chart 1: Avg. Fare from CDG – March & April 2025 vs 2024)
Looking at the top five carriers in terms of capacity from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Chart 2 shows that all of them, except for easyJet, have seen an increase in their average fare in April 2025 compared to April 2024. These five carriers together account for 65% of the total capacity from CDG in 2025, with Air France alone representing 52% of that capacity, according to Apex schedules data. When considering only these operators, there has been an average fare increase of 7%. However, when taking into account all capacity deployed from Paris Charles de Gaulle, the average increase rises to 14%.
Chart 2: Fare Change Top 5 Carriers CDG April 2025 vs 2024)
Moreover, as shown in Table 4, when distance-based categories are considered, for European or Similar destinations, British Airways stands out among the highest-capacity operators in this category for recording a substantial increase of 87% in its average fare. In contrast, other major carriers operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle have seen more modest changes, with average fare increases remaining below 10%. Two operators even show a decrease, with Air France experiencing the most significant drop with -8%. When all carriers are included, not just those with significant capacity, the overall average fare increase in this category reaches 9%.
For intermediate destinations, fare increases are more pronounced. Qatar Airways shows the highest rise at 31%, followed by Air France, which, unlike in the previous category, records a 19% increase. easyJet, however, once again sees a decline, this time greater than before, with a -7% drop. When considering all operators within this range, the average increase reaches 11%.
Finally, for remote destinations, Air France records the largest rise in average fare, with a 22% increase. Meanwhile, U.S. carriers, with the exception of Delta, report a decline, which may be linked to lower fare levels on transatlantic routes from Europe to the United States, as discussed in our May article The Impact of Declining US–Europe Travel on Fare Trends. Nonetheless, despite these decreases, the overall average fare in this category still shows a 16% increase when all capacity is considered, which is not surprising given that this category includes one of the largest increases in the solidarity tax, rising from €7.51 to €40 according to AirportCharges
Table 4: Fare Change Top Carriers CDG April 2025 vs 2024)
Conclusions
The 2025 increase in France’s solidarity tax has led to substantial rises in taxes across all fare classes and destinations, with notable financial implications for both airlines and passengers. This change is already reflected in fare data, with average prices rising significantly in April 2025 compared to the previous year. Some airlines, such as Air France, appear to be passing these costs on intermediate and remote destinations, which represent 61% of their network, while attempting to keep fares lower on shorter routes. This may reflect a strategy to remain competitive against low-cost carriers, such as easyJet, which seem to be absorbing the tax increase. Nonetheless, when all operators are considered, the three new distance-based categories show an overall fare increase, potentially influencing demand and putting pressure on airfares from France, which may have a broader economic impact on airline revenue. The full effect will depend on how both airlines and passengers respond over time, but the current data clearly indicates that this policy change is already reshaping the pricing landscape of French aviation.
