Airline Pilots Announce Strike on November 14 Over Tax Hike Concerns

The National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL) has announced a strike for November 14 in response to a proposed increase in the solidarity tax on airline tickets, known as the 'Chirac tax.' The amendment aims to double the revenue from this tax, raising it from approximately 460 million euros to 1 billion euros by 2025. Airlines, including Air France, Air Caraïbes, and French Bee, have indicated that they will pass these costs onto consumers, significantly increasing ticket prices. The SNPL warns that this could lead to tens of thousands of job losses in the French airline industry, as demand may decline due to higher prices. The union criticizes the government for not consulting industry stakeholders before implementing this tax hike, calling it a potential 'social disaster' for the sector. The Ministry of Transport has downplayed the impact of the strike notice, stating that details are still unclear.