Overview
- The cabinet, which approved the draft Wednesday, set a July 1, 2026 start date and sent the bill to Parliament for passage.
- Tickets will carry three distance-based taxes measured from Frankfurt: €13.03 for up to 2,500 km, €33.01 for 2,500–6,000 km, and €59.43 for over 6,000 km.
- The Finance Ministry projects revenue losses of about €185 million in 2026 rising to roughly €355 million by 2030, to be offset from 2027 by cuts in the Transport Ministry budget.
- Business and aviation groups called the cut overdue, while the rail union EVG warned it could drain funds from the rail network and the airport group ADV urged MPs to adopt the exact 2024 rates.
- Cheaper fares are uncertain because the government cannot force airlines to pass on savings and fuel costs tied to the Iran conflict are pushing up carriers’ expenses.