Ministers must act to tax ‘planet-wrecking private jets’, campaigners urge

The Scottish Government is being urged to turbo-charge talks with UK ministers so it can introduce a tax on private jets – with environmental campaigners claiming the “reckless pollution” they produce is “fuelling the climate crisis”.

Oxfam Scotland said with nearly 13,000 flights involving private jets recorded in Scotland in 2023, a tax on them could raise more than £21 million a year – rising to almost £30 million if flights at remote and island airports are covered.

Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, urged ministers to act as a report from the campaigning charity showed it would take an average person in Scotland more than 6,360 years to generate the same amount of emissions as are produced by the private jets of 23 billionaires in just one year.

It added the emissions from the private jets of 23 billionaires are the equivalent to 35 million train journeys between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street.

Oxfam is calling for the “climate-polluting extreme wealth” to be taxed to raise funds to help tackle the climate crisis.

The charity is urging the Scottish Government to use its devolved powers to bring in a levy on what it describes as “super-polluting private jets”.

First Minister John Swinney, who has already described calls for a tax on private jets as a “welcome suggestion”, is being urged to hold talks with the UK Government to allow Holyrood ministers to use long-held powers to tax passengers on planes leaving Scottish airports.

Oxfam Scotland believes there is “no meaningful obstacle” to the two governments agreeing the existing exemption to the UK’s current air passenger duty for passengers travelling from the Highlands and islands can continue – other than for those choosing to fly by private jets – when the levy is replaced by an air departure tax in Scotland.

Mr Livingstone said: “Private jets may be status symbols for the elite, but their reckless pollution is fuelling the climate crisis which threatens us all.

“This deadly destruction is inexcusable. It’s time for both the UK and Scottish governments to step up and land a fair tax on those choosing to fly excessive, planet-wrecking private jets.

“Billionaires’ lifestyle emissions utterly eclipse those of ordinary people and it’s time they were brought back down to earth.

“A devolved private jet tax would raise crucial funds to fight climate change while sending a clear signal that the ultra-wealthy will no longer be permitted to use Scottish skies to pollute with impunity.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government continues to explore all options for implementing air departure tax in a way that protects airline connectivity in the Highlands and islands.

“We will review the rates and bands of air departure tax – including the rates on private jet flights – prior to the introduction of the tax to ensure they are aligned with our net zero ambitions.”