BA welcomes prospect of independent Scotland
British Airways might benefit from an independent Scotland as the Scottish government is likely to abolish air passenger duty, said Willie Walsh, chief executive of the airline’s parent company IAG.
Walsh said the Scottish government recognised the negative impact APD has on the economy and it has promised to reduce it, then possibly abolish it altogether, if there’s a "Yes" vote in the referendum.
Speaking as IAG announced that it turned a profit last year, Walsh told BBC Breakfast that Scottish independence could be a positive development for BA.
The company employs about 1,300 staff in Scotland.
In its White Paper on independence, the Scottish government said air passenger duty (APD) would cost Scotland "more than £200m a year" in lost tourism expenditure.
It said an independent Scotland would reduce APD by 50% in the first instance, with the complete abolition of the tax "when public finances allow", in a bid to make Scottish airports more competitive.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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