March 2019
Air Discount Scheme Extended
A scheme which subsidises air fares for residents in some of Scotland's most remote communities has been renewed and extended so more people can benefit.
Support for the Air Discount Scheme (ADS), which provides eligible travellers with a discount of 50% on core air fares, has been renewed until 31 December 2020.
From 1 April, the scheme is being extended to cover the whole of the Caithness area and further parts of Sutherland. Students studying in the eligible areas, but whose main residence is elsewhere, will also be included in the scheme.
We will be writing to all scheme members to inform them of the renewal of the scheme. Scheme members will be able to continue to use their existing ADS card, so they will not need to go through a renewal process.
From 1 April, the postcode areas of KW8, KW9, KW10, IV25 and IV28 will be included in the Air Discount Scheme. Students studying in the eligible areas, but whose main residence is elsewhere, will also be included in the scheme from this date.
February 2015
State Aid Registration - Scheme Number SA.40925
This scheme operates under Commission Regulation (EC) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L187/26062014).
Support for
Social aid for transport for residents of remote regions is covered under Article 51
Of the General Block Exemption Regulation.
The legal basis of the scheme: Section 70 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.This allows Scottish Ministers to make grants to any persons for any purposes relating to transport.
General Provisions
The Air Discount Scheme aims to tackle the problem of high air fares for the remotest communities in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by providing a discount of 40% on the core air fare on eligible routes.
Anyone whose main residence is in Colonsay, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and North West Sutherland can apply for membership of the scheme.
The Scheme also includes students from these areas who are studying away from home.
Aid Intensities
The maximum aid intensity allowed is 50% of the core air fare.
Exclusions
- Onward connections to an airport outside the eligible areas or Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Bergen;
- Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes;
- People whose main residence is not in the eligible areas; and
- National Health Service funded trips.