Discussions are to take place between the Scottish Government and the European Commission to extend the Air Discount Scheme (ADS), which provides subsidised flights for residents of the Highlands and Islands.
The Air Discount Scheme gives residents of Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and North West Sutherland a 40 per cent discount on the price of core air fares.
And the first steps have been taken to extend the current scheme as Scottish Ministers are keen to see the ADS run until at least 2011, the current agreement ends in March.
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “Discussions with the European Commission will be based around a three year approval, and we are confident that this will present no difficulties for the Commission. If approved, this Scottish Government will continue to look at ways of improving the Scheme and increasing take-up even further.”
The scheme was introduced in May 2006 in recognition of the high fares that can apply on air services in the Highlands and Islands and was funded through the European Commission’s Aid of a Social Character to promote cheaper air travel between smaller towns as well as provide links to the main economic, administrative and population centres of Scotland.
