Call to axe airport tax

SCOTLAND will have a “huge competitive advantage” over the rest of the UK by halving air passenger duty, a report said yesterday.

The move has triggered calls from the British Air Transport Association – which prepared the report – for the £ 3billion- a- year tax to be axed in next week’s Budget.

Scotland will halve the duty from 2018 raising the prospect of passengers leaving England to fl y from Scotland. The tax is £ 13 for short- haul fl ights and, from next month, £ 73 for long haul.