EasyJet agrees deal with Scottish Government

The cost saving deal was announced after it emerged that Mr Salmond and his entourage spent almost £500,000 on a trip to the Ryder Cup earlier this year.

The travel deal with the low-cost airline will cover all public sector staff in Scotland.

But the move has come under fire from the Green party in Scotland which says it setting a bad example at a time when the Government should be trying to switch to low carbon modes of transport.

It will offer low-cost flexible fares between Scotland and London for employees travelling on business.

And senior ministers like Mr Salmond and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon could be among those travelling with the company.

“Our priority has always been to ensure government travel is delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective manner, which provides the best deal for taxpayers,” a Scottish Government spokesman said.

“Ministers can use Easyjet as part of this new deal.

“It is for their offices to decide which mode of transport to use, ensuring this is the most cost-effective and time-efficient method available at the time of booking.”

The agreement between the airline and Expotel, the travel management company for the Scottish Government and a number of other public-sector bodies, will come into effect from December.

Public-sector workers who can make use of the deal will include those employed by organisations such as NHS Scotland, the police force and local government, as well as MSPs.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of EasyJet, said: “We believe this new deal will not only offer public-sector workers across Scotland easy and affordable travel but will also safeguard the taxpayers’ purse.

“The deal underlines EasyJet’s commitment to Scotland and follows the announcement of six new routes at Edinburgh airport which will help deliver £90 million to the economy.”

Ms Sturgeon said: “This is a tough economic climate and we are always looking for ways to cut down on necessary expenses such as travel.

“This deal between Expotel and EasyJet will provide significant savings for public-sector organisations in Scotland, including the Scottish Government.”

But it comes at a time when the Scottish Government is committed to driving down harmful green house gas emissions and the SNP administration has set “world leading” climate change legislation with a headline aim of cutting emissions by 42% by 2020.

Last month, environmentalists protested outside Holyrood days after it emerged that the Scottish Government failed to achieve its first legally binding emissions target.

And Green MSP Alison Johnstone fears the Easyjet deal sends out the wrong message from ministers.

“This announcement sends the worst possible signal to both the public and private sector at a time when a lot of effort is being made to get business travellers to switch to low carbon travel to London,” The Lothian MSP said.

A report last month shows the carbon from a single flight from Edinburgh to London is three times as high as a flight, but also that rail travel makes sense economically and in terms of work productivity. The Government needs to set a far better example if it wants other large employers to help Scotland meet its carbon targets.”

EasyJet said that by using the latest technology, operating efficiently and filling the majority of seats, a passenger’s carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

The SNP administration came under fire this week after it emerged that almost £500,000 was spent sending First Minister Alex Salmond and his entourage on a week-long trip to the Ryder Cup in Chicago.

SNP politicians were accompanied by 12 Scottish government officials and another 22 from VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, the quango set up to attract overseas business to Scotland.