A new report from the French parliament’s general rapporteur of the finance committee has revealed a steep decline in activity by French-registered business jets in the wake of the so-called “solidarity tax” applied to charter flights. According to Philippe Juvin, who leads oversight of government finances for the National Assembly, French aircraft movements in the sector since last October have dipped by between 11% and 20% in each three-month period, while flights by foreign aircraft into French airports increased by between 3% and 4%.
The statistics lend weight to arguments made by the French chapter of the European Business Aviation Association. It has protested that French officials have focused on applying the tax, which can amount to up to €2,100 (about $2,400) per passenger, to French charter operators, while international competitors can easily avoid payment.
Juvin concluded that business aviation has suffered a disproportionately negative impact from the tax versus the airlines. He also said foreign-registered charter aircraft had increased their market share in France from 86% in early 2025 to 91% by mid-2026, resulting in a decline in overall tax revenues from French companies.
The report concluded that the solidarity tax has adversely impacted employment and transport connections in France. EBAA France said it will continue to campaign for reforms to the French government’s draft finance law for 2027 “to reverse this punitive tax and avoid the definitive disappearance of the French flag.”
Some French charter operators have chosen to register their fleets in other European Union countries such as Malta.
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