The potential for a short-haul flight ban across the EU, including between neighbouring countries, appears to have moved a step closer with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Georges Gilkinet calling on the EU to follow France’s lead.

In a bid to cut carbon emissions, it was announced last week of a French ban on domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives exist, a move that has the support of President Emmanuel Macron.

The changes would see aircraft banned from operating between the likes of Paris and Lyon and Paris and Bordeaux, but still allowing connecting flights to serve travellers from overseas. The changes have been welcomed by politicians from other countries with Gilkinet, who serves as Belgium’s Minister of Mobility, calling for the EU to follow suit.

“I want to forbid such little distance flights,” said Gilkinet, speaking to inews. “You have to make this on a European level, this makes sense. We tried with some colleagues who have a majority in the European Council, but there are other countries who are afraid of such a decision.

“But I hope we can make a majority in the future to ban and to help night trains, and to help little companies and co-operative companies to develop.”

A cross-border policy between France and Belgium could see flights banned between Paris and Brussels (1hr30mins by train) or between Paris and Antwerp (2hours), with rail services clearly benefitting from any such move.

Studies have shown that the French proposals would affect around 12 per cent of the country’s domestic air travel, reducing CO₂ emissions in the country’s flights by 6.6 per cent. Belgium recently introduced new air travel taxes with higher duties for flights shorter than 500 km (310 miles), as well as higher rates on private jets.