Scottish government Air Discount Scheme to halve fares

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34457495

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An initiative that offers lower cost air fares for people living in island and remote communities in Scotland has had the discount it offers increased.

Transport and Islands Derek Mackay has announced that from 1 January ticket costs will be cut by 50%.

The Air Discount Scheme currently offers a 40% reduction in prices.

The discount is available on certain routes to people in Caithness and north west Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Northern and Western isles.

Mr Mackay also announced a freeze on ferry fares for 2016-17 across the Scottish government subsidised services.

In February, the Scottish government renewed the Air Discount Scheme for a further four years.

The eligible routes include those to Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and also Bergen in Norway.

Uptake of the scheme is highest on the Western Isles which has 21,594 members, followed by Shetland with 18,318 and Orkney with 16,771, according to results released in February.

The scheme has more than 71,900 members.