Discount on air fares for islanders

ISLANDERS will now be eligible for a 50 per cent discount on air fares, as ministers described flights to remote communities as “lifeline connections”.

The new discount is an increase of 10 per cent to the previous Air Discount Scheme (ADS) and is available for residents of Caithness and north-west Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles.

The discount will apply to all tickets booked on or after January 1 and is also available to students who study away, volunteers and employees of third sector organisations.

Minister for Transport and the Islands Derek Mackay announced earlier in 2015 the scheme would be extended until 2019.