Why is air travel cheaper than rail (and can the trend be reversed)?

Written by Sophie Renassia

Published yesterday

Why is air travel cheaper than rail (and can the trend be reversed)?

Even when you're aware of the climate emergency, it's hard not to feel discouraged when faced with the — sometimes staggering — price gap between trains and planes. So, why is flying cheaper than taking the train (even though it emits up to 70 times more CO₂ on a Paris–Barcelona route and transport emissions in France should decrease four times faster, according to the latest report from the High Council on Climate)?

Artificially low airfares, tax exemptions, cost structures that disadvantage rail, a less developed train offer… The latest report from the Réseau Action Climat looks into the roots of this climate and economic nonsense — and proposes concrete solutions.

Plane vs Train: which is cheaper?

According to recent data from UFC-Que Choisir and Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, the situation varies significantly between domestic French routes and European cross-border routes.

In France: the train is cheaper… if there’s a direct connection

On French rail lines, the picture is mixed. The train is 40% cheaper than flying when there’s a direct TGV or INTERCITÉS service between two cities. But as soon as a connection is needed, the train becomes 12% more expensive. This highlights the importance of re-establishing direct regional rail links across France.

In Europe: the train is 2.5 times more expensive than the plane

On European routes, the trend is even clearer: the train is on average 2.5 times more expensive than flying (weighted by passenger volumes, for fairness — as explained by Alexis Chailloux from Réseau Action Climat). On the most popular routes (such as Paris–Milan or Paris–Copenhagen), train tickets can be 3 to 4 times more expensive!

In practical terms, it’s not uncommon to find plane tickets for €15–€20 — while train tickets often exceed €100.

Why such a big price gap?

Air travel tax breaks

This imbalance stems largely from major tax advantages granted to airlines, compared to rail operators:

No tax on kerosene
0% VAT on international flight tickets

On a Paris–Barcelona flight, these exemptions cost the French state between €30 and €40 per passenger.

High rail access charges

On the same Paris–Barcelona route, track access charges for trains represent over 50% of SNCF’s operating costs!

Also read: Why is train travel so expensive?

More low-cost flights, fewer high-speed trains

Low-cost airlines continue to reduce their costs (often at the expense of working conditions), while high-speed rail options remain scarce, especially internationally.

Example: on the Paris–Barcelona route, SNCF currently offers just 1,000 seats per day (2 single trainsets), compared to nearly 8,000 seats on flights.

A political issue that needs urgent action

In its latest report, the High Council on Climate warns that France must double the pace of its emissions reductions to meet its 2030 climate targets. For transport emissions specifically — which account for 34% of national emissions — a fourfold acceleration is needed!

Meanwhile, SNCF has raised the alarm: without an additional €1 billion in annual investment by 2028, the French rail system is at risk of collapse. The French government urgently needs to take up the issue.

What solutions does Réseau Action Climat propose?

According to RAC, the state could end tax exemptions for air travel as early as 2026:

For European routes: by increasing the air ticket tax (TSBA) to fairly offset fiscal advantages — about €30 per passenger.
For domestic routes (excluding overseas territories): by introducing a kerosene tax comparable to diesel (€0.60/litre) and restoring VAT to 20% (instead of the current 10%).

This would generate over €3 billion per year to fund:

A low-cost train ticket once a year for every French citizen, by reviving the historical “billet de congés annuel” (originally created in 1936). RAC proposes an annual round-trip ticket at €29 for all.
A real night train revival, focusing on regional connections (e.g. Marseille–Nantes, Nice–Bordeaux) and key international routes (e.g. Paris–Barcelona).

Also read: Night trains in France – where do we stand?

Network renovation and reduced TGV access charges, to boost frequency and bring down prices.

Also read: SNCF CEO sounds the alarm: €1 billion needed to avoid collapse

“In short, the price gap between flights and trains is not an unavoidable consequence of international treaties or structural cost differences between transport modes. It is first and foremost the result of political decisions — like maintaining tax exemptions for aviation and not subsidising TGVs in France. And political decisions can be changed.”
— Alexis Chailloux, Transport Lead at Réseau Action Climat, in this article for Bon Pote

Click here to read the full report (in French).