Environmental campaigners have welcomed a reversal over plans to reduce air tax amid climate change concerns
Environmental campaigners have welcomed plans for an air tax cut to be scrapped.
The Scottish Government had wanted to reduce air departure tax by half before eventually abolishing it.
However the policy has now been scrapped as ministers have decided the cuts are now longer in line with its climate targets.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: "All parts of government and society have a contribution to make to meeting this challenge.
"We continue to support our tourism industry, which is going from strength to strength, and we will work with the sector to develop in a sustainable way.
"We welcome their efforts - and those of the aviation industry - to reduce carbon emissions."
Friends of the Earth Scotland has welcomed the decision. “This change of heart is excellent news,” said director Dr Richard Dixon.
“When you are in a climate emergency the first thing you should do is stop all the things that will make the situation worse. The government’s own figures show that removing ADT would have resulted in a significant increase in emissions, equivalent to putting 30,000 extra cars on our roads. Cancelling the ADT cut demonstrates that declaring a Climate Emergency was a serious commitment, more than just words.
“This decision would help keep climate emissions down, support public finance and send an important signal that Scotland is serious about climate change. Clearly the next logical step is to start mapping out the phase out of the North Sea oil industry.”
However the announcement was criticised by Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar.
He said: "We've gone from personal commitments to all-out cancellation in the space of just two weeks, which shows just how reactionary this decision is.
"It does not show leadership and means airports and airlines have been led down a path of failed promises for three years by this Scottish government.
"It also raises questions about continued support for our tourism sector when airlines have already walked away from Scotland due to this failure to deliver."
