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.