A PRIVATE jet tax could raise almost £400 million for the public purse over the current parliament, according to new analysis.
However, campaign groups warned that for the full value of the tax to be realised, the SNP Government would have to act “quickly, set the rate high, and ensure all private jet passengers using Scottish airports are targeted”.
Under current plans, the Scottish Government will implement a tax on private jets in April 2028, one year after a devolved Air Departure Tax (ADT) will replace UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) for departures from Scottish airports.
In a joint call, Oxfam Scotland, Possible, Safe Landing, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland, and the Patriotic Millionaires, have said the Scottish Government should bring forward the private jet tax so it comes in at the same time as ADT.
In 2025, the higher rate of APD was £84 per passenger for domestic flights, or flights 0-2000 miles from London. For flights 2001-5500 miles from London, the rate was £647, while for flights over 5500 miles, it was £673. In the first year, Scotland's ADT is expected to match ADP rates.
Oxfam analysis estimating a private jet tax set at ten times that rate found it could raise around £30m per year, for a total of £120m between 2027-2031.
Possible has proposed setting the private jet tax rate at 30 times the APD higher rate, which Oxfam analysis estimates could raise around £98m per year, for a total of £392m between 2027-2031.
The modelling used figures which suggested that, in 2025, 11,896 private jet flights used Scotland’s airports.
Polling for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland shows 88% of people in Scotland support a tax on private jets.
Katherine May, Oxfam Scotland advocacy adviser, said: “The First Minister has promised action on private jets, now he needs to prove he means business. A weak tax, delayed or diluted, will change little; not emissions, not behaviour, not the money needed for climate action.
“Scotland’s private jet tax must start in 2027, be set punishingly high to make passengers think twice and hit those who prioritise luxury travel over lives.
“At the moment, we see white trails in the sky, and climate destruction on the ground. The gap between excess and consequence is exactly what this policy has to close.”
Polling for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland shows 88% of people in Scotland support a tax on private jets.
Alethea Warrington, head of aviation at climate charity Possible, said: “It’s outrageous that ordinary people struggle and vital public services suffer while the wealthiest few keep flying around in virtually untaxed, ultra-polluting private planes.
“The Scottish Government now has an opportunity to fix this, and start properly taxing the ultra-rich for the harm they’re causing to our climate.
“Why should a billionaire on a private jet pay a lower rate of tax than an ordinary person on their only holiday of the year?”
Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer said: “The super-rich take around 12,000 private jet flights in Scotland every year. That is nothing short of a disaster for our climate.
“The public shouldn’t have to pay the price for multi-millionaires and billionaires hopping between their shooting estates and super yachts. That is exactly what is happening right now though, with homes being burned down by wildfires or destroyed by flooding. This extreme weather is the end result of a climate crisis made far worse by the behaviour of the super-rich.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is introducing a private jet tax from April 2028 to ensure those who choose to use private jets pay their fair share.”
