Feb 2008
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: CONTINUATION OF THE AIR DISCOUNT SCHEME
You will be aware that the Scottish Government’s
Minister for Transport
, Infrastructure and Climate Change
, Stewart Stevenson, announced in January the intention to continue the Air Discount Scheme.
The Minister’s announcement was predicated on the European Commission providing its approval for the Scheme to run for another 3 year period until
31 March 2011
at the existing discount rate of 40% of the core air fare.
We are pleased to confirm that this approval has now been received and that we are now beginning the process of issuing new membership cards. Please get in touch with the ADS team on 0800 032 2890 if you have not received your new card by 24th March 2008. Your new card should be used for booking discounted flights from
1 April 2008
. Your existing membership card should be used up to that date. Your existing pin number can continue to be used from 1 April.
I hope you enjoy accessing the benefits of the Air Discount Scheme over the next 3 years. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Air Discount Scheme Team on 0800 032 2890 .
If the membership card is no longer required, please contact the Team and we will update our membership database accordingly.
ADS Team Manager
February 2008
Jan 2008
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE AIR DISCOUNT SCHEME (ADS)
The Scottish Government’s Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, has today announced to the Scottish Parliament his intention to continue the Air Discount Scheme for a further period of 3 years.
The Minister’s announcement follows analysis of the ADS conducted for the Scottish Government by Halcrow Ltd. This concluded that there have been significant increases in patronage on some ADS-related services, and significant increases in the frequency and capacity of these services since the launch of the Scheme in May 2006. The analysis has also identified large reductions in average journey times for ADS members, as well as broad satisfaction with the Scheme’s administration. From the analysis, it is clear that the Scheme has performed very effectively and Ministers have concluded that it should continue.
Officials will now begin the process of securing approval from the European Commission for the Scheme to run for another 3 years at the existing discount rate of 40% of the core fare. Provided there are no concerns from the Commission, we would hope to be in a position to issue new membership cards to existing members during February and March. Members should however continue to use their existing membership cards to book discounted flights until the current Scheme ends on 31 March.
Air Discount Scheme Team Manager
8 January 2008
July 2007 - Scheme Review
Update on The Air Discount Scheme
Since its introduction in May 2006, the Air Discount Scheme has proved popular with residents of eligible areas of the Highlands and Islands .
Membership across the eligible areas is currently running at around 87% with over 130,000 discounted tickets purchased in the Scheme's first year.
The Scheme has an initial approval from the European Commission until 31 March 2008. The Scottish Executive will shortly select consultants to look in some detail at the impact the Scheme has had and how it has been operated and administered. As part of this, some members will be asked for their views. This work will feed in to advice that Executive officials will provide to Ministers before the end of 2007 on whether we should pursue the Scheme's continuance beyond March 2008.
We would expect to be in a position to make an announcement in late December 2007/early January 2008 and Scheme members will be kept fully updated on developments.
Scottish Executive
July 2007- Loganair Offers New Fares.
Further details can be found at www.loganair.co.uk.
January 2007- Loganair Offers New One Way Fares
Loganair is launching new one way fares throughout their network. The new fares will be for sale from 17 January 2007 and will be available for travel after 25 March 2007.
Further details can be found at www.loganair.co.uk.
January 2007 - Air Discount Scheme now available online for Eastern Airways
Following a successful first 8 months for the Air Discount Scheme, Eastern Airways has now upgraded its IT system to allow customers to benefit from the 40% saving online. Passengers flying between Wick and Aberdeen and Stornoway will now be able to book flights and receive their reduced air fare through the Eastern Airways website. Since it was launched in May 2006 the scheme has proved very popular with residents in the Highlands and Islands and Eastern Airways hopes to increase its appeal through this new development.
28/07/2006 - Air Discount Scheme helping the Highlands and Islands to prosper
Air travel is continuing to develop as a vital transport mode in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland with more people able to benefit from access to scheduled air services than ever before.
The total number of passengers flying via airports in the region during the first quarter of 2006/07 increased by 18%, according to figures published today.
The three-month running total for the 10 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) stands at 317,683 passengers compared to 268,666 for the same period in 2005/06. Aircraft movements in the first quarter saw a 6.4% rise to a total of 26,213.
The fastest growing airports in the region from 1 April to 30 June this year were: Inverness (+25.6%); Islay (+23.1%); Kirkwall (+12.2%) and Sumburgh (+13.7%).
A contributory factor to the growth is the recently launched Scottish Executive Air Discount Scheme which has reduced the cost of flights on qualifying routes for people living in the region's remotest communities. Its positive impact is already being reflected in passenger growth in areas including Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and Islay.
Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL said: Accessibility is vital to the attractiveness of our region for business, leisure, inward investment and population growth. We are a remote region but ongoing improvements to the air network are helping to offset this and also improving the quality of life for people who live and work here.
The Air Discount Scheme is now addressing the long standing issue of the cost of flights for people living in our remotest communities and the impact is already visible as more people are now able to access air services and make better use of their time for business or social reasons.
The uptake for the scheme from eligible residents has been very high and more than 15,000 flights have already been booked on qualifying routes. It is clear that it is having a positive impact on the lives of people in the island and remote mainland communities, said Mr Lyon.
31/05/2006 - Air Discount Scheme launches
An initiative that offers people from island and remote parts of Scotland lower air fares to travel between their homes and main population areas becomes available today.
Students studying away from home and their parents can benefit the devolved government's Air Discount Scheme which has been agreed with the European Commission.
It provides a 40% reduction on air fares for people, including students studying away from home.
The eligible areas are Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, Islay and Jura, Caithness and North-West Sutherland.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"This is great news. Low air fares are something that most people in Scotland have taken for granted for some time. However, up to now people living in the remoter parts of the country have not been able to benefit from them.
"This devolved government had a commitment to deliver affordable air fares to Scotland's most peripheral communities and that is what we have done. I am delighted that we are also able to include students.
"Increasing access to higher and further education and supporting people living in our remoter communities are key objectives for this devolved government. Our scheme will help local people, local businesses and help stimulate economic activity.
"Interest in the scheme has been high and so far nearly 37,000 Air Discount Scheme cards have been sent out which represents about 50% of those eligible. I would encourage those who have not yet applied to make their applications."
Discounts for eligible people will be available on any scheduled air service to and from any airport within Scotland - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
There will be no restriction on the number of trips per eligible person. The discount will be available for both single and return journeys.
Exclusions:
- The scheme is intended to link isolated populations to commercial centres rather than subsidise wider journeys beyond Scotland. An onward connection element to an airport outside the four population centres and the eligible geographic area will not qualify.
- Current Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes, as European regulation does not allow multiple forms of aid on one route
- People whose main residence is not in the eligible geographic area
- National Health Service funded trips
Application forms are available
on-line or from the Scheme Administrator on Freephone 0800 032 2890.
31/03/2006 - Discount air fare scheme
Registration forms for a lower air fares scheme will be dropping through letterboxes in the Highlands and islands over the next few days.
The Air Discount Scheme will provide a 40% reduction on air fares for people whose main residence is any of the following: Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, Islay and Jura, Caithness and North-West Sutherland. It includes students from these areas who are studying away from home.
Read the full press release on the Scottish Executive website
