Study examines feasibility of extending Air Discount Scheme

A study into the feasibility of the Scottish Government reintroducing the Air Discount Scheme for business users is under way.

HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, has commissioned the study to examine the benefits and costs of the scheme, which reduces the cost of air travel for those living in eligible geographical areas of the Highlands and Islands.

The scheme was introduced by the Scottish Government in 2006 to benefit businesses and individual travellers from air dependent communities. In April 2011, it was restricted to non-business trips. Flights made as part of an individual’s work for the private, public or third sectors were no longer eligible for a discount.

This was relaxed in July 2012 when ADS was reinstated for business trips made by those working in the third sector. Further, in April 2015 the level of discount was raised from 40 per cent to its current level of 50 per cent.

An online survey is also collecting data on businesses’ current use of air services, including frequency, trip purposes and an estimate of their total annual spend on flights. This, says HITRANS, will capture information about changes in use of air services by businesses since 2011 and wider business impacts from the change in policy.

The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AirDiscountScheme.  The deadline for responses is Sunday, May 22.