An initiative offering lower air fares to travellers from remote parts of the Highlands and islands is being renewed for four more years, it was announced on Friday.
The Scottish Government’s Air Discount Scheme (ADS) was due to expire on March 31 but more funding will keep it going until March 31, 2019.
It offers a 40% discount on air fares on eligible routes for residents in Caithness, North West Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
The subsidy has proven popular with users, including students studying away from home, directly tackling the high air fares issue in the region and ensuring these communities stay connected.
Since 2012, the scheme has also been open to volunteers and employees from charity and community organisations.
However, Shetland MSP Tavish Scott yesterday issued fresh calls for the scheme to be returned to its original format by including business travel.
Overall, about 75% of eligible people have signed up to the initiative, but for most areas the figure rises above 90%.
Only in Lairg is membership much lower, with a 38% take up, whereas in Shetland it is 97%.
Eligible routes are to Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bergen airports.
The discount scheme started in 2006 and has a total of 71,943 members.
Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: “The Scottish Government is doing everything we can to support communities in the Highlands and islands and measures such as the Air Discount Scheme and Road Equivalent Tariff make a real difference for local residents. For many these are lifeline connections and I am particularly pleased to announce the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme.”
Mr Scott said: “I will continue to press the Scottish Government to reverse their cuts and expand the ADS service which is vital for Shetland. I introduced ADS to help local people and local businesses by offsetting the economic and social disadvantages which are faced by island communities. These disadvantages still exist, and I still believe that we need a full ADS scheme working for our islands.
“The sudden cuts to business travel which the Scottish government imposed in 2010 left a number of local businesses bearing steep additional costs at a time when they can least afford it. The increased costs mean they are less able to build contacts South, which ultimately harms the local economy.”