Question 3192 — air transport

Summary

Mr. Raphaël Arnault questions the Minister to the Minister of Regional Planning and Decentralization, responsible for transport, on what the Government intends to implement to limit the impacts of domestic flights from small airports which do not host commercial flights nor are used for civil security. Avignon-Provence airport, which is in the 1st district of Vaucluse, is illustrated of unnecessary infrastructure, which impacts residents due to pollution, takes up a significant portion of public money from the region and land, all to benefit a handful of very wealthy people who travel by private jets. First of all, the airport is financed mainly by public subsidies and by land revenue from the SAAP (Avignon Provence Airport Company), including the CCI (chamber of commerce and industry) is the sole shareholder. This leads to a situation of chronic deficit, particularly in the context of exploitation. In addition, the airport thus benefits from investment and operating subsidies from the Southern region, which raises questions about the use of public funds for an infrastructure whose main use only benefits 3,758 passengers per year (2023 figures). This Public money, in a department classified among the poorest in France like Vaucluse, should serve the general interest. Airport activity is very polluting and the surrounding residents are the first to be impacted. Numerous studies show the health consequences due to exposure to air and noise pollution caused by airport flights, particularly on healthy life expectancy, diseases respiratory and cardiovascular. Avignon airport represents an area almost as large as Avignon intramuros. This infrastructure is as much a handicap to the development of biodiversity as it is a land grab that could be used for agricultural development or the creation of housing. Furthermore, to respect the Paris agreement and therefore limit global warming to +1.5°C globally, every French person will have to emit a maximum of 2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year in 2050, while an hour's journey by private jet already represents the emission of 8 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. In addition, Avignon airport is intended for business aviation and short trips, while the city is well served by the TGV and two motorways: private aviation is therefore not essential for regional mobility. Avignon airport is not the only one in France to be ecological and social nonsense. Also, in view of these different elements, he would like to know the measures that the Government intends to take to limit the impacts on populations and the environment of private jet flights.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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