THE Greens want to introduce a £1,000 per person “super tax” on all travellers in private jets landing in Scotland – saying their plans could raise £75 million for public transport and help tackle climate change.
The party's climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell also said the proposed levy would send a message that “private jets are not welcome in Scotland”.
Aviation is not included in the party’s powersharing agreement with the SNP at Holyrood so the Scottish Government will not be required to bring in the charge if it's opposed by the SNP.
While the Scottish Parliament passed legislation in 2017 which in theory would allow for a different way of taxing flights, Scotland continues to use the UK's Air Passenger Duty rates.
This is because ministers are yet to find a workaround to allow an exemption for flights departing from the Highlands and Islands because those regions are so dependent on aeroplanes.
The Greens said Holyrood's devolved powers over air passenger duty should be used to introduce the new “super tax”.
More than 10,000 private jets came and went from Scottish airports in 2022, Civil Aviation Authority figures showed.
Meanwhile, the Greens claimed that across Europe, carbon emissions from private jets had increased by almost a third (31%) since 2005, with the UK accounting for 19%, more than any other European country.
But, at the moment, those travelling by private jet pay the same air passenger duty charges as business or first-class passengers.
Ruskell said that at present just 1% of people were responsible for some 50% of global aviation emissions.
He insisted: “Scotland should introduce a super tax on these flights, to urgently cut the number of jets in our sky and ensure that polluters are paying for the damage they are doing.”
Such a “super tax” on private air travel could raise £75m, the Greens said, adding that this cash could be used to improve public transport in Scotland to help fund projects to tackle climate change.
Highlighting the current heatwave in Europe, which has sparked wildfires in places such as the Greek island of Rhodes, the Green MSP insisted: “We are in a climate emergency. The current deadly heatwaves across Europe and wildfires on our doorstep show how urgently we need to act.
“Aviation is one of the biggest drivers of the crisis, yet hundreds of private jets are landing here in Scotland every single month.
“This isn’t people having an annual family holiday to Spain – it’s luxury, often half-empty, and completely unnecessary private flights which are fuelling the burning of our planet.
“Just 1% of people cause 50% of global aviation emissions – it’s time for us to say their private jets are not welcome in Scotland.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government does not currently have the devolved power to introduce this kind of tax without the cooperation of the UK Government.
"Air Departure Tax will only be levied on flights that begin at an airport in Scotland.
“Scottish Ministers remain fully committed to introducing Air Departure Tax when a solution to the Highlands and Islands exemption issue has been found.
"Air connectivity is critical for the Highlands and Islands and the existing exemption must remain in place to protect remote and rural communities.
“The Scottish Government continues to work with the UK Government to find a solution for aviation that remains consistent with Scotland’s climate ambitions.”
