Air duty cut ‘helps the wealthy, not the poor’

services do they intend to cut, or which other taxes will have to rise to make up the shortfall in the national budget?”

The report found businesses would take 29% of the benefit, £ 47.3m the first year, while 8.3% (£13.5m) goes to leisure passengers in the richest 10% of Scottish households and 2.4% (£ 4m) to the poorest 10%.

Researchers estimate the average per journey saving for a passenger is £ 54 on a luxury jet, £ 20 in first class and £8 in economy.

S c o t t i s h G re e n MSP Andy Wightman, a member of Holyrood’s Economy Committee, added: “Given the social and environmental challenges we face, a cut in aviation

Leo Murray, left, claims better off travellers will benefit most. tax was always a bizarre priority from the Scottish Government.

“Most Scots will lose out if this cut goes ahead, and it’s grossly misleading of ministers to try to sell this as about families when the overwhelming winners from this policy are wealthy frequent fliers and their businesses.

“This is nothing short of a bung to business, will deprive public services of vital funds and do nothing to reduce inequality or tackle the climate crisis.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our plan to cut Air Departure Tax by 50% by the end of the Parliament, and then abolish it when public finances permit, is a fundamental c o m p o n e nt to improving Scotland’s international connectivity and providing a real boost to our economy.

“UK APD is the most expensive tax of its kind in Europe and one of the highest in the world and is a barrier to Scotland’s ability to secure new direct international services and maintain existing ones.”

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