Exclusive:SNP's new aviation charges a 'potential tax hike hitting millions of Scots' - Edinburgh Airport
Scotland’s largest airport condemns “uncertainty” triggered by surprise move
Planned new air travel charges will be a "potential tax hike that will affect millions of Scots and deter airlines from bringing services to Scotland", the country’s biggest airport has told The Scotsman.
Edinburgh Airport said the proposed introduction of an air departure tax (ADT) to replace the UK-wide air passenger duty (APD) had created uncertainty because the “fundamental change” had not been discussed first with the aviation industry.
It is understood airlines fear the change from April 2027 could lead to passengers being charged more to take off from Scottish airports than elsewhere in the UK.
ADT, which was first proposed by the Scottish Government in 2017, was revived in Tuesday’s Scottish Budget, to the apparent surprise of aviation chiefs.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the rates would remain the same as APD in 2027-28, with those for the following year to be announced in the 2027 Budget.
She said the 2028-29 rates would include a “supplement” for private jets because they produced significantly more emissions per head than commercial flights.
Economy class passengers pay £7 APD for UK flights, which increases to £8 in April and £13 for international flights up to 2,000 miles (£15 from April). APD is £90 for flights up to 5,500 miles (£102).
Ministers previously planned to introduce ADT so they could halve the rate, then scrap it, but that was abandoned in the face of concerns over emissions.
They have said its aims were now to “generate stable revenues to fund public services, protect Highlands and Islands aviation connectivity, promote Scotland’s connectivity and growth objectives, and support our net zero ambitions”.
Under the new plans, passengers on UK flights from Highlands and Islands airports would continue to be exempt from the tax, subject to approval by the UK Government.
However, ADT would be charged on international flights from the airports, which are exempt from APD. These would include connecting UK flights such as via Heathrow.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: "The Scottish Government's approach of announcing a fundamental change to aviation taxation without engaging with the industry has created uncertainty and will most certainly affect Scotland's connectivity in the short and medium terms as airlines wait to see what the Government's plans are.
“The headline-grabbing private jet tax has masked a potential tax hike that will affect millions of Scots and deter airlines from bringing services to Scotland.
"Ministers and officials must now work with the industry to ensure clarity and understand fully the impact to Scotland's economy of an increase in taxation in this area."
Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Sue Webber said: “The SNP’s determination to manufacture differences with other parts of the country always result in higher taxes for Scots.
“The introduction of the air departure tax must not be an excuse to pile additional costs on hard-pressed families going on holiday.
”Any charges should be kept in line with the rest of the UK or it will make Scottish destinations less attractive to travellers.”
AGS Airports, which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton, said: "It is vital that the introduction of ADT is implemented in a way that strengthens Scotland’s connectivity and competitiveness, driving both regional and national economic growth.
“Revenues from ADT should be reinvested to accelerate progress in sustainable aviation - supporting the development of a domestic sustainable aviation fuel industry and advancing zero-emission flight technologies.”
Airlines UK, which represents carriers, said: “Airlines look forward to engaging with Government to review and understand how they will approach this change with a view to protecting and enhancing Scottish short and long-haul connectivity, supporting the Scottish visitor economy and ensuring air travel remains affordable for customers.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Jamie Greene said: “There is an important conversation to be had about the impact of aviation travel on the environment, but equally we shouldn’t overlook the connectivity needs of our rural, island and regional communities for whom air travel is a lifeline service.
“The SNP have been sitting on these tax powers for the last decade so we await with interest future proposals over what they might do with these powers.
“Ultimately, my party want to see a solution that strikes the correct balance between making sure the worst polluters pay, supporting Scotland’s aviation ecosystem and protecting remote communities who rely on air to connect.”
But Scottish Greens transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “If we are to cut pollution and protect our planet then we badly need to cut the number of flights taking off and landing in Scotland.
“It is right that aviation is taxed in a way that reflects the enormous impact it has on our climate.
“Looking ahead, we need to cut the cost of trains and buses and other clean forms of transport.
“One way to do this would be to tax the small number of people who are flying month in, month out, for non-essential reasons.
“There is no way to tackle aviation’s climate impact without some demand reduction and it needs to start with the most frequent fliers.”
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