On two-euro tax on small parcels, President of the Marne departmental council, Jean-Marc Roze: "We are going to consider closing Vatry airport."
Since the implementation of the tax on small parcels imposed on e-commerce platforms, Châlons Vatry Airport (XCR) of France has seen a decrease in the number of cargo planes.
The two-euro tax on small parcels introduced in early March has caused a sharp drop in freight activity at the platform.
A month ago, a tax on small parcels imported into France from countries outside the European Union came into effect. Since then, Vatry Airport in the Marne region, which specializes in freight, seems eerily empty. Only two planes from China land each week, compared to seven weekly in February.
This situation was denounced by Jean-Marc Roze on ICI Champagne-Ardenne radio this Thursday, April 2nd.
At Roissy airport, activity virtually ground to a halt within days, posing a direct risk to employment and revealing the unexpected effects of a measure that was, in fact, targeted.
Now, Chinese brands like Shein and Temu are using other countries, such as Belgium. Liège Airport has seen a threefold increase in the transit of small parcels.
On July 1, 2026, a new €3 European tax on parcels will come into effect. The vice-president of the French Transport and Logistics Association (Union des entreprises Transport et Logistique de France) considers the situation very worrying. In total, 1,000 jobs could be at risk.
To avoid a complete disaster, the sector is calling for better coordination at the European Union level.
