Air travel: is it always cheaper to go abroad than to France?

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It is clear that France remains a more expensive destination for our compatriots flying from France than abroad. This is evidenced by the development of air ticket prices in March, which was published by the DGAC this Tuesday.

Ticket prices from France continue month after month in the same trend: an increase for the domestic network and a decrease for international connections. In March, they grew by 4.4% compared to March 2023, all destinations combined, according to data published by the Directorate General for Civil Aviation this Tuesday 16 April. The increase was mainly driven by metropolitan flights with a price increase of 23.4%, while the increase in the cost of overseas travel was limited to 2.6%.

According to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, the increase in prices in the metropolitan network is partly caused by traditional airlines (as opposed to low-cost ones), which are particularly expensive in this market.

International always cheaper

If the prices of international flights from France increase by 2.1% overall between March 2023 and March 2024, however, the development is contrasting depending on the destinations. The further away, the cheaper the tickets. Three regions are particularly affected by price increases: North Africa, the Levant and Europe, with prices rising by almost 11%.

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In contrast, prices for long-distance communications have been falling for the fifth month in a row. The largest decrease was recorded in Asia and the Pacific (-7.7%), followed by Latin America (-5.2%) and North America (-1.5%). In the case of sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, their prices stabilize (+0.2% and +0.6%).

For long-haul flights to overseas departments, ticket prices increased by 6.2% last month. In descending order, the most expensive destinations are Réunion, Guyana, followed by Martinique, Mayotte and Guadeloupe.