SNP urged to abandon its plan to slash air tax
● Opposition MSPS call for 50 per cent reduction to be scrapped
Opposition parties have renewed appeals for the Scottish Government to shelve cuts to air tax ahead of an update on the plans to MSPS today.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens urged the minority SNP administration to ditch cutting the levy by 50 per cent.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said yesterday that its aim is “to abolish the tax altogether when resources allow”.
New pressure to shelve air tax cuts has come ahead of ministers updating MSPS on their plans today.
Three opposition parties called on the SNP Scottish government to ditch its proposals to replace air passenger duty (APD) with air departure tax (ADT), which would be 50 per cent lower.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay is expected to announce further details of the scheme at Holyrood, including the new tax rates and bands for different flight distances.
Ministers are understood to believe they remain on course to start the reduction next April and complete it by 2021.
APD, on flights departing UK airports, is £13 per passenger for shorter trips and £78 for those over 2,000 miles.
Among parties opposing the plans are the Scottish Greens, whose support is seen as crucial for getting ministers’ next budget approved – including the air tax changes.
Ministers may face the further hurdle of coming to an agreement with the Scottish Conservatives, who want a cut only on long-haul flights.
An additional factor is the need for the European Union to agree to continue the current APD exemption for Highlands and Islands airports as part of the new tax.
Labour said the tax cuts, which would cost £189 million, would help frequent flyers most. Transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: “Cutting ADT will not make Scotland fairer or greener – all it will mean is less funding for hardpressed public services while the richest few get yet another bonus.”
Greens finance spokesman Patrick Harvie said: “Ministers must set the first rates and bands soon, and if it amounts to a tax cut for the airlines, they cannot expect to sit down with Green MSPS to agree a budget that implements those cuts.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat energy spokesman Liam Mcarthur said: “The Scottish Government needs to stand up to the aviation industry and change course over their reckless plan to slash airline taxes and pump tens of thousands of tonnes of additional emissions into the atmosphere.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our aim is to reduce the burden of ADT by 50 per cent and to abolish the tax altogether when resources allow. Improving Scotland’s air connectivity is one of our top priorities – it will help build strong business links and provide a real boost to our tourism industry.
“We will continue to promote Scotland as a destination which can sustain more direct services and better global hub connectivity, and will work with Scotland’s airports to achieve these objectives.”