A north MSP has warned that it would be “unthinkable” for any agreement to be reached that threatens the future of of tax-free flights from the Highlands and islands.
The SNP’s Kate Forbes said it was “critical” that protections are in place before Air Passenger Duty (APD) is replaced by the Holyrood government.
She was speaking after Finance Secretary Derek Mackay confirmed that it was “not possible” to introduce Scotland’s proposed new Air Departure Tax (ADT) in April next year, as ministers had hoped.
Since 2001, travellers departing from airports in the Highlands and islands have been exempt from APD, and the Scottish Government has been progressing legislation to use new powers to replace the levy with ADT.
The SNP hoped to cut the tax in half across Scotland, before scrapping it completely, but the move was shelved last year after it emerged that permission from the European Commission would be needed to retain the existing Highland discount when the new legislation comes into force.
In response to a parliamentary question, Mr Mackay said that the UK and Scottish governments had “continued to work together, at both ministerial and official levels, to seek a solution to the Highlands and Islands exemption issue”.
But he added that it had “become clear that aiming to introduce the tax at the beginning of the next fiscal year, April 2019, is not possible”.
Ms Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “It would be unthinkable to compromise the Highlands and islands exemption to Air Departure Tax.
“For communities which depend on flights to get around, it is critical that all governments protect cheaper flight prices.
“Before, ADT is devolved and the Scottish Government reduces ADT by 50%, it’s important that there is legal and regulatory protection for the Highlands and Islands exemption.
“Domestic flights in the Highlands and Islands are almost as important as trains and buses in other parts of Scotland.”
However, Scottish Labour’s finance spokesman James Kelly said: “The SNP government’s handling of Air Passenger Duty has been a shambles from the outset – and as usual nationalist ministers are trying to point the finger at anyone except themselves.”
And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Instead of using Brexit, the EU and the Highlands and Islands airports exemption as a pathetic excuse on APD cuts, the Scottish Government should just abandon their anti-environmental policy.”
