Edinburgh Airport chief: Scottish private jet tax 'deeply unhelpful'
Scottish Government plans higher charges from 2028 to help pay for emissions
Impending higher taxes for private jets have been criticised by the boss of Scotland’s busiest airport as “deeply unhelpful” because their passengers boost the economy.
Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said the hike would hit investors and other big spenders, and questioned whether it would bring in extra money.
Under Scottish government plans, from 2028 such passengers would be charged an unspecified “supplement” to its new air departure tax because private aircraft produced “significantly more emissions per head than commercial flights”.
The tax is due to replace the UK-wide air passenger duty (APD) in Scotland next April, when rates for 2028 are due to be revealed.
Private jet passengers are currently charged between £142 and £1,141 APD, depending on flight length, compared to between £8 and £106 for passengers on commercial flights.
Edinburgh Airport said some 8,000 private jet passengers used the airport last year.
Mr Dewar told the Edinburgh Airport Consultative Committee on Monday: “It's deeply unhelpful for the Scottish government to target private aviation. It's a bit of a political football.
“It's all very well saying they can afford it, but it seems to completely ignore the fact that the people on these aircraft are exactly the people who come to Scotland to invest, to set up business here and spend money.
“It's probably not going to raise any actual revenue either, so it's a bit meaningless."
Gordon Robertson, the airport’s chief sustainability officer, said by contrast, the Scottish government was “engaging pretty well” over the new tax for other passengers, which will be the same as APD in 2027-28.
The airport fears ministers may raise rates in 2028, which it has described as a “potential tax hike that will affect millions of Scots”.
Reform transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said: “Scotland doesn’t need another reason for investors to pack up and move elsewhere.
“Less than a month after the deeply troubling analysis of the failed higher tax band increase, ministers should think twice when they’re being warned of yet another loss-making policy.”
Scottish Conservatives finance spokesperson Craig Hoy said: “The SNP is more interested in virtue signalling than growing our economy, and this punitive private jet tax is unlikely to raise meaningful revenue while damaging Scotland’s reputation as a place to do business.
“Instead of dreaming up new taxes, the SNP should be cutting the tax burden, backing our airports and making Scotland a more attractive place to invest and visit.”
However, the Scottish Liberal Democrats said private jet passengers should pay their way.
Transport spokesperson Willie Rennie said: “In our manifesto, we committed to reduce the climate impact of flying by ensuring passengers on private jets pay rates that reflect the per-passenger impact of these flights on the environment.
“Set at a reasonable rate, we consider it a fair and proportional policy. But careful implementation is essential to ensure it doesn’t act as a disincentive to those seeking to invest in Scotland.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are introducing a private jet tax to ensure those who choose to use private jets pay their fair share.
“We will continue engaging with the aviation sector and other stakeholders to ensure that air departure tax is implemented effectively from April 2027, and we intend for higher rates for private jets to come into effect from April 2028.”
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