The government’s proposed amendment to raise taxes on air transport is causing great concern among the ground handling industry. The tax hikes are likely to lead to a significant reduction in air traffic, with serious consequences for the already fragile sector.
The expected fall in the number of passengers and flights, directly linked to the increase in costs for airlines, will have a major impact on the volume of business for ground handling companies. It is these same volumes that determine the number of jobs and operational requirements on the runways and in the terminals. Faced with this situation, an impact on employment seems inevitable for ground handling.
Another feared effect is the redeployment of low-cost airlines to other, less taxed European hubs. This could lead to drastic reductions in activity at some French airports, and even to the closure of entire sites for some ground handling companies.
In view of these issues, CSAE is calling for its full involvement in any consultation meetings and impact studies that the government may conduct. CSAE’s role is crucial to ensure that future decisions take into account the viability of a sector that is an essential link in the air transport chain.