Greens in plea after surge in plane trips
BY KATRINE BUSSEY MINISTERS have been urged to scrap plans to halve the tax on air passengers after figures showed a 30 per cent rise in plane journeys in the last five years.
The Scottish transport statistics showed air passenger numbers hit 28.8million in 2017-18 – a rise of 29.8 per cent from 2012-13.
That compares with a 5.7 per cent increase in ferry journeys, a 7.2 per cent rise in trips made in private cars and a 17.4 per cent increase in train journeys on ScotRail services.
Meanwhile, journeys by bicycle have fallen by 6.5 per cent, while there were 7.6 per cent fewer travellers using buses to get around.
With plane journeys soaring, the Scottish Greens say it’s time for the Scottish Government to ditch plans for a 50 per cent cut in air passenger duty.
Ministers have pledged to replace the levy with a devolved air departure tax, which would be set at half the exisiting rate.
Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said: “The transport statistics show the number of air passengers increased dramatically in the last five years.
“In light of this, the Scottish Government’s absurd plans to give a tax break to the highly polluting aviation industry should be scrapped.”
Harvie added: “In the face of the climate crisis, ministers shouldn’t be focusing on placating the only transport industry that is already free of fuel duty.”