French Tax for Private Jet Flights

Private jet travel offers exceptional flexibility and efficiency, but France’s revised private jet departure tax is now in force and has significantly increased the cost of flying out of the country.

Since 1 March 2025, all private jet passengers departing French airports have been subject to a tiered tax structure, with charges reaching up to €2,100 per passenger depending on aircraft type and flight distance.

This represents a substantial shift from the previous flat €20 per passenger fee, introducing a system that scales taxation based on both aircraft category and route length.

In this guide, we break down how the French private jet tax currently works, what determines the final cost, and how it affects private aviation departures across France.

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Categories for French Private Jet Tax

The tax is applied on a per-passenger basis and varies according to flight distance and aircraft type. The table below outlines the current banding structure:

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How the French Private Jet Tax Is Applied

The tax applies to all non-scheduled commercial air transport operations departing from France, including private jet charters and commercially operated helicopter flights.

It is charged on a per-passenger basis and applies to both standard charter flights and empty leg operations departing from French airports. Flights operated outside of a commercial context are not within the scope of the tax framework.

Distance Calculation Basis

Flight distance is calculated from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), regardless of the actual departure airport. This means classification is standardised across all French airports.

For example, a flight from France to New York is assessed based on an approximate CDG distance of 5,800km. As a result, even departures from western French airports such as Brest Bretagne or Rennes–Saint-Jacques are still classified within the long-haul band.

Domestic Flights

Internal flights within France are subject to a fixed charge of €420 per passenger, plus 10% VAT.

Exemptions

Certain operations are exempt from the tax, including:

• Technical stops
• Flights diverted due to weather or technical issues
• Cargo-only or crew-only operations

Additionally, passengers under the age of two are also exempt from the tax.

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Impact on Popular Routes

The introduction of the revised tax structure has had a notable impact on private jet charter pricing across Europe. With Paris Le Bourget serving as the continent’s primary hub for business aviation, a significant volume of European private jet traffic is now subject to materially higher passenger taxes.

For example, a group of four travelling from Paris to Nice – one of Europe’s busiest private aviation routes – would now incur €1,680 in passenger tax (€420 per passenger), plus 10% VAT.

Meanwhile, a private jet flight to New York with 10 passengers would incur an additional €21,000 in passenger taxes (€2,100 per passenger). In practical terms, this can increase the overall cost of a charter significantly, with one-way rates from Paris to New York typically starting from around €60,000.

Airports Affected by the Tax

The revised tax applies to all private jet departures from French airports, with the impact most visible at the country’s primary business aviation hubs:

• Paris–Le Bourget Airport
• Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
• Cannes–Mandelieu Airport
• La Môle – Saint-Tropez Airport
• Lyon–Bron Airport
• Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
• Grenoble Alpes–Isère Airport
• Chambéry Airport‍

How Operators Are Responding

The revised tax structure is already influencing pricing, aircraft selection, and routing decisions across the private aviation sector. For shorter European sectors departing France, the additional passenger charges now represent a more meaningful proportion of the total charter cost, particularly on light and midsize aircraft.

As a result, some operators and travellers are increasingly evaluating alternative departure airports outside France for certain itineraries, while others are adjusting aircraft selection to better manage overall trip economics.

Despite the increased costs, demand for private jet travel from major French hubs such as Paris Le Bourget and Nice remains strong, particularly on high-frequency business and leisure routes.

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Navigating France’s Private Jet Tax with Global Charter

France’s revised private jet departure tax has added new cost and planning considerations for both operators and travellers. At Global Charter, we continue to support clients with tailored routing, aircraft selection, and operational planning across France and Europe.

Whether arranging departures from Paris Le Bourget, the French Riviera, or alternative regional airports, our team works closely with clients to identify the most efficient solutions based on itinerary, aircraft type, and overall trip requirements.

If you would like to understand how the tax may affect your upcoming journey, our team can provide tailored guidance based on your specific itinerary – speak to our team.