France Private Jet Departure Tax: What Operators Should Know When Planning Departures from French Airports
The France private jet departure tax has become a standard line in the planning of business aviation flights leaving French airports. Since 1 March 2025, a dedicated business aviation rate of France's solidarity tax on air tickets applies per passenger to qualifying departures from airports such as Paris (LFPB / LBG), Nice (LFMN / NCE) and Cannes (LFMD / CEQ).
Global Diners prepares VVIP inflight catering in its own kitchens in Paris, Nice and Madrid, and serves more than 2,500 airports through our kitchens. This guide summarises how the tax works, as published at the time of writing, and how flight departments can plan departures from France with clarity, including the catering on board. For tax advice on a specific flight, operators should always refer to the French customs authorities or their own tax advisers.
What the tax is
France levies a civil aviation tax on passengers departing from French airports, with an additional solidarity component often referred to by its French acronym TSBA. The 2025 finance law reorganised this solidarity component and introduced specific, higher rates for business aviation from 1 March 2025. The 2026 finance law, adopted in February 2026, kept this rate structure in place.
The business aviation rate is generally understood to apply to commercial operations, such as charter flights, on aircraft with 19 passenger seats or fewer. Industry guidance notes some points of interpretation, for example on fractional ownership and private, non-commercial flights, so each operator should confirm its own position.
How the rates are structured
The tax is charged per passenger and per departure from France. The amount depends on two factors: the type of aircraft (piston or turboprop versus jet) and the distance band of the destination, measured from Paris to the main airport of the destination country's capital.
Distance band | Turboprop and piston (per passenger) | Jet (per passenger) |
Up to 1,000 km, e.g. to Geneva (LSGG / GVA) or London (EGGW / LTN) | EUR 210 | EUR 420 |
1,000 to 5,500 km, e.g. towards Dubai (OMDB / DXB) | EUR 675 | EUR 1,015 |
Over 5,500 km, e.g. to New York (KTEB / TEB) | EUR 1,025 | EUR 2,100 |
Rates shown are those published for the business aviation category since 1 March 2025. The distance band follows the capital of the destination country, which is why many European capitals, the United Kingdom and Switzerland generally fall in the first band. Domestic flights within France also carry VAT.
Who is counted
Each passenger on a qualifying departure, including owners and guests on commercial flights
Flight crew are not counted as passengers
Infants under two years old are exempt
Positioning flights with no passengers on board carry no passenger tax
Departures after a technical stop, or diversions due to weather or a technical reason, are exempt
Who declares and pays
The operator is responsible for declaring and paying the tax to the French authorities through the online customs platform, monthly or quarterly depending on its annual liability. In practice the amount usually appears as a line on the charter quote or the operator's invoice to the client.
Planning departures from French airports
For flight departments and charter brokers, the tax is a known element of every French departure, which makes it easy to integrate into planning from the very first quote. A few habits help keep departures smooth:
Confirm the final passenger count early, as it drives both the tax line and the catering order.
Check the destination country to identify the right distance band.
Include the tax explicitly in client quotes so passengers see a complete picture.
Keep passenger lists and manifests consistent across handling, border formalities and catering.
Plan multi-leg trips leg by leg: the tax applies to each departure from France.
Multi-leg trips and round trips
On a round trip, only the departure from France is a taxable departure; the return flight to France departs from a foreign airport and follows the rules of that country. On a trip with several French stops, each departure from a French airport is considered on its own, which is why leg-by-leg planning keeps the overall picture clear for clients.
For crews, multi-leg trips are also where catering planning brings the greatest comfort. Ordering each leg from the station best placed to serve it, for example Paris for the outbound departure and Nice for a Riviera return, keeps every service fresh and the galley perfectly organised.
Clear numbers, an accurate passenger count and a confirmed schedule are the foundations of every well-planned departure from France.
Catering for departures from Paris (LFPB / LBG)
Le Bourget is Europe's leading business aviation airport and our Paris home station. Our own Paris kitchen prepares every order fresh and delivers planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG), and also serves Paris (LFPG / CDG) and Paris (LFPO / ORY). Typical departures range from continental breakfasts for morning shuttles to London or Geneva to full dinner services for long-range flights across the Atlantic.
Catering for departures from the Riviera
On the Riviera, our Nice kitchen delivers planeside at Nice (LFMN / NCE) and also serves Cannes (LFMD / CEQ) for aircraft operating from the western Riviera. Orders for Marseille (LFML / MRS), Toulon (LFTH / TLN) and Saint-Tropez (LFTZ / LTT) are prepared by our kitchens and coordinated by the same team.
Because the passenger count is confirmed for the tax declaration, it is also the ideal moment to finalise the catering order. One accurate number serves both the operator's paperwork and the galley, so every guest finds exactly what they expect on board.
Ordering catering alongside your departure planning
Ordering with Global Diners follows one simple routine at every French airport: email order@globaldiners.com with the aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count, ideally 24 hours before delivery. Choose from the Global Diners menu card and our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote.
Every order is prepared to HACCP principles, transported in an unbroken cold chain and labelled with allergen information on every item. For flights booked at short notice, our guide to last-minute private jet catering explains how we handle requests closer to departure, and our overview of private jet catering in Paris and the French Riviera covers the full Paris and Riviera route.
Key Dates for Business Aviation Catering at Paris (LFPB / LBG)
Private-jet demand peaks around Paris Fashion Week (January, February to March, June and September to October), Roland-Garros (May to June), the Paris Air Show (June, odd-numbered years) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (October), so please order catering early during these periods.
Event | When | Where |
Paris Fashion Week | January, late February to early March, June, and late September to early October | Venues across central Paris |
Paris Air Show | June, odd-numbered years | Paris-Le Bourget Airport and exhibition centre |
Roland-Garros | Late May to early June | Stade Roland-Garros, Paris 16th arrondissement |
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | Early October | ParisLongchamp Racecourse, Bois de Boulogne |
Art Basel Paris | October | Grand Palais, Paris |
Christmas and New Year holidays | Mid-December to early January | Paris and onward to Alpine and sun destinations |
Paris Air Show at Paris (LFPB / LBG): June, odd-numbered years
The world's oldest aerospace show takes over the airport itself, with static displays, flying demonstrations and trade delegations from every continent. Parking and movements are tightly organised during show week, so business jet schedules are usually planned well ahead. Catering for exhibitor chalets, delegation aircraft and crews is prepared in our own production kitchen on site. Confirm orders as soon as your slot is secured, and plan larger platters for hosted visits as well as crew meals for long display days.
Fair, show and racing dates in Paris move a little each year, so check the current timings with our team when you send your order.
Things to do around Paris (LFPB / LBG)
Le Bourget lies just north of central Paris, so the city's classic sights are a short drive away: the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Seine embankments and the gardens of the Tuileries and Luxembourg. River cruises run day and evening, and Montmartre gives one of the best views over the rooftops. Beyond the city, the Palace of Versailles and its park, the forest and château of Fontainebleau, and the Champagne houses of Reims make popular day trips. Families often add Disneyland Paris, while golfers head to Le Golf National, host of the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Culture and heritage near Paris (LFPB / LBG)
Few cities match Paris for museums: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Rodin are all within the centre. Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened in December 2024 after its restoration. At the airport itself, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace occupies the 1930s terminal of the airfield where Charles Lindbergh landed in 1927. Haussmann's boulevards, the Marais mansions and the Opéra Garnier show the city's architectural layers.
FBOs at Paris (LFPB / LBG): the business aviation terminals here include Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France. Our own kitchen delivers planeside, with timings agreed with the FBO or handler you choose.
Also nearby: Paris-CDG (LFPG / CDG)
Paris-Charles de Gaulle, at Roissy north-east of the capital, is France's largest airport and a major intercontinental hub. Most private flights here are large-cabin and long-range: heads of delegation, corporate shuttles, VIP-configured airliners and ultra-long-range jets connecting Paris with the Gulf, Asia and the Americas, often linked to connecting airline flights. Passengers head into central Paris, La Défense, the exhibition halls of Paris Nord Villepinte next door, and the Chantilly and Senlis area to the north. Traffic follows the Paris business and luxury calendar, with sharp peaks during fashion weeks, major trade fairs and the June events season.
FBOs at Paris-CDG (LFPG / CDG): the business aviation terminals here include Advanced Air Support International, G-OPS, Jetex Paris and Air Aviation Support. Our team coordinates every delivery with the FBO or handler you choose.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Paris (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Nice (LFMN / NCE): Signature Aviation, AviaVIP and DC Aviation G-OPS
Cannes (LFMD / CEQ): Sky Valet
Geneva (LSGG / GVA): Geneva Airpark SA, Signature Aviation, Dassault Aviation Business Services SA, Jet Aviation Geneva and Privatport
London Luton (EGGW / LTN): Signature Aviation and Harrods Aviation
Dubai (OMDB / DXB): ExecuJet Middle East and Jet Aviation Dubai
Teterboro (KTEB / TEB): Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature Aviation
Paris-CDG (LFPG / CDG): Advanced Air Support International, G-OPS, Jetex Paris and Air Aviation Support
Paris-Orly (LFPO / ORY): Advanced Air Support International and Alyzia
Marseille (LFML / MRS): Jetex Marseille FBO and AviaVIP
Toulon-Hyères (LFTH / TLN): Toulon-Hyères Vinci Airports Executive Handling
Saint-Tropez (LFTZ / LTT): Sky Valet St Tropez
Frequently asked questions
How much is the France private jet departure tax?
Since 1 March 2025, the business aviation rate for jets is EUR 420, EUR 1,015 or EUR 2,100 per passenger depending on the destination distance band, and EUR 210, EUR 675 or EUR 1,025 for turboprops.
Does the tax apply to flight crew?
No. Flight crew are not counted as passengers, and infants under two are exempt. Positioning flights without passengers carry no passenger tax.
Who pays the French business aviation passenger tax?
The operator declares and pays it to the French authorities and usually includes it in the client's quote or invoice. Operators should confirm their own situation with the authorities or their tax advisers.
Can Global Diners deliver catering for departures from Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE)?
Yes. Our own kitchens in Paris and Nice prepare every order and deliver planeside. We recommend ordering 24 hours before delivery via order@globaldiners.com.
Can you collect pastries from a famous Paris pâtisserie for a Le Bourget departure?
Yes. For flights from Paris-Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG), our team can collect macarons, viennoiseries or cakes from a named Paris pâtisserie on request and bring them planeside with the rest of your order. Give us the shop and the items you want; we check availability and opening hours, then confirm the collection time in our quote.
Is catering available at Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG) during Paris Fashion Week?
Yes, Paris-Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG) is covered throughout fashion weeks, when private flights in and out of Paris increase sharply. Our own production kitchen sits at the airport, which keeps planeside delivery straightforward even on the busiest days. We still recommend confirming orders well ahead of a fashion-week departure so that menus, quantities and timings are fixed early.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Paris (LFPB / LBG)
Private jet catering in Nice (LFMN / NCE)
Private jet catering in Cannes (LFMD / CEQ)
Private jet catering in Paris and the French Riviera
Departing from France soon?
Once your passenger count and schedule are confirmed, send us the details and our Paris or Nice kitchen will prepare a fresh order, delivered planeside and ready for a relaxed departure.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
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