Scotland air link to China by 2021 if air passenger duty cut

Cutting air passenger duty could make direct flights between Scotland and China an economic possibility, argue campaigners. Picture: David Moir

Chief executive Gordon Dewar said the Scottish Government’s plans to halve the tax from 2018 would be the catalyst for many new routes.

He said he expected a China link to be established by 2021, but it could come much sooner if APD is reduced from the current £85 for such flights.

Ministers have been trying to woo Chinese airlines to Scotland for at least five years because they view China as a major trading partner.

The number of Chinese visitors to Scotland has doubled each year over that period.

Manchester became the first UK airport outside London to win a Chinese link when flights to Beijing started in June.

Plans for new legislation to enable an APD reduction are expected to be announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at Holyrood on Tuesday.

This will involve the creation of a replacement Scottish tax, which ministers want to abolish when they can afford to.

However, the minority Scottish Government is likely to need backing from the Conservatives because the other parties are firmly opposed to lowering the tax. Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser told The Scotsman his party could be persuaded.

He said: “We have always argued for reform of APD, and will continue to pursue it. We want to change it into a more progressive tax, and would like to see it to be destination-linked to travel between different geographical blocks.

“However we are open to other options, and will analyse any proposals that the Scottish Government puts forward.”

Mike Robinson, of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “A blanket cut of all APD simply to see a single route established is a very blunt approach. Far better mechanisms already exist to incentivise route development.

“The only certainty if the Scottish Government goes ahead with this cut is we will have a massive hole in government budgets and increased damage to the climate.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “UK APD is one of the most expensive taxes of its kind in the world.

“It continues to act as a barrier to Scotland’s ability to secure new direct international routes and maintain existing ones, helping to boost our international connectivity.

“This is particularly important in light of the economic uncertainty following the EU referendum outcome.”