Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
01 December 2014 10:32
Flying from Scotland could become cheaper under new tax powers
Travelling from Scotland could become cheaper for air passengers, following a new deal on tax powers between governments north and south of the border.
A pledge to transfer powers from the UK to the Scottish government could see air taxes dramatically cut, or even scrapped.
The move would be welcomed by those travelling abroad, freeing up extra cash for holiday essentials such as travel insurance and spending money.
Currently, the air passenger duty (APD) in Britain ranges between £13 and £194, depending on how far you are travelling and the class of ticket you buy.
But any move by the Scottish government to slash the tax or get rid of it altogether would make it much cheaper to fly from Scotland than rival airports in England, which may tempt some passengers to rethink where they plan to fly from - particularly if they were already departing from northern airports such as Newcastle.
The tax is disliked by travel companies and airlines, who are concerned that it has a negative impact on the UK economy. They would welcome any cut in Scotland, raising the prospect of more air routes being opened up from the country.
IAG CEO Willie Walsh said families would see a distinct benefit. The boss of the British Airways owner said a family of four heading on holiday to the US would see a saving of £276.
That is money that could be spent on extra excursions while abroad or even on extending the holiday.
Mr Walsh also said that scrapping the tax would provide a boost to the tourism industry in Scotland, suggesting the move could bring in an extra £200 million a year.
Any change to APD, if Scottish politicians decide to go ahead with it, will not happen before the next general election in the UK, which is due in May 2015, as the new powers will not be transferred before that date.
22 September 2017
A new computer code that can be applied to GP surgery data could be the answer to identifying those most at risk of developing bowel cancer.
[more...]
21 September 2017
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning over a growing resistance to antibiotics.
20 September 2017
Thousands of Ryanair flights have been cancelled over the next six weeks, as the airline says it "messed up" allocation of its pilots' annual leave.
19 September 2017
Manchester's Girlguides are being urged to help the elderly with a new badge incentivising youngsters to tackle senior loneliness.
16 September 2017
Holidaymakers are being evacuated as winds up to 200km per hour hit Central Vietnam, with Typhoon Doksuri damaging houses, roads and infrastructure.
15 September 2017
People in parts of East Anglia are eight times more likely to survive liver disease than Blackpool residents, according to new data by Public Health England (PHE).
14 September 2017
A non-invasive alternative to gastric bypass surgery that helps people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight is being recommended for widespread use by NHS experts.
13 September 2017
Almost half of UK adults travelling to areas at risk of malaria are not covering themselves by taking medication, despite recommendations made by the NHS and world health organisations.
12 September 2017
A new health warning has been issued by scientists in Sweden, suggesting e-cigarettes with nicotine could lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
09 September 2017
Researchers have developed a futuristic pen-like device that can tell whether someone has cancer much faster than current technology.
08 September 2017
A staffing crisis in the NHS is seeing cancer patients turned away from their GP surgery and instead visiting A&E, a report has claimed.
07 September 2017
Whether it's binge-watching box-sets, shopping for clothes, chatting to friends or picking up work emails, staying connected is pretty much essential to everyday life.