12th March 2026
Scotland's long‑planned Air Departure Tax (ADT), due to replace the UK’s Air Passenger Duty in April 2027, is set to become one of the most significant policy shifts in the country’s aviation landscape in more than a decade.
While the tax will initially mirror existing APD rates, the Scottish Government will gain the power from 2028 to adjust the levy in ways that could either stimulate growth or deepen existing challenges for regional airports.
For Aberdeen International Airport and Wick John O’Groats Airport, the implications are sharply contrasting. One is a major regional hub navigating a competitive market; the other is a fragile lifeline for remote communities, struggling to maintain even minimal scheduled services. ADT could influence both airports’ futures—but not necessarily in the same direction.
A Transitional Year Before the Real Change Begins
When ADT comes into force in 2027, passengers are unlikely to notice any immediate difference. The Scottish Government has committed to matching APD rates for the first year, meaning ticket prices and airline operating costs will remain broadly unchanged.
However, from April 2028, Scotland will be free to set its own tax structure. This flexibility opens the door to targeted incentives for regional connectivity, environmental surcharges for high‑polluting flights, or reductions aimed at boosting tourism and economic activity.
The choices made in the next two years will determine whether ADT becomes a catalyst for growth—or an additional burden on an already pressured sector.
Aberdeen Airport: A Regional Powerhouse Facing Strategic Decisions
Aberdeen International Airport remains a critical gateway for the North‑East, serving offshore energy workers, business travellers, and a growing leisure market. Its route network has stabilised since the pandemic, but growth has been modest, and competition from larger Scottish airports remains intense.
Short‑Term Outlook
Stability Without Expansion
Because ADT will initially mirror APD, Aberdeen is not expected to see major changes in 2027. Airlines are unlikely to add or cut routes based solely on the tax transition, and passenger numbers should remain steady.
Yet the airport continues to face structural pressures:
Rising airline operating costs
A gradual shift away from business travel
Competition from Edinburgh and Glasgow for European leisure routes
Medium‑Term Outlook: A Chance to Rebuild and Expand
From 2028, Aberdeen could benefit significantly if the Scottish Government uses ADT to support regional aviation. A reduction in short‑haul tax rates, or targeted incentives for underserved routes, could encourage airlines to expand services.
Industry analysts suggest that:
Lower ADT could make Aberdeen more attractive for new European routes
Incentives could help restore connectivity lost during the pandemic
The airport could strengthen its position as the North‑East’s international gateway
However, the opposite is also true. If ADT rises for environmental reasons, Aberdeen risks losing marginal routes to airports in northern England, particularly Newcastle.
Forecast
Aberdeen is likely to see modest but steady growth, with the potential for stronger expansion if ADT is used strategically to support regional connectivity.
Wick John O’Groats Airport: A Lifeline in Need of Support
Few airports illustrate the fragility of regional aviation more starkly than Wick. Once served by multiple scheduled routes, the airport has struggled in recent years, at times operating with no commercial flights at all. Passenger numbers remain extremely low, and the airport relies heavily on public funding to maintain operations.
Short‑Term Outlook: No Immediate Relief
Because ADT will initially match APD, Wick will not see any direct benefit in 2027. Its challenges are structural rather than fiscal:
Very low passenger volumes
Limited airline interest
High per‑passenger operating costs
Competition from Inverness Airport
Even a small increase in tax could disproportionately affect Wick, where route economics are already precarious.
Medium‑Term Outlook: A Critical Test of Scotland’s Regional Policy
Wick’s future depends heavily on how ADT is structured from 2028 onwards. A zero‑rate ADT for remote airports—similar to the existing APD exemption for the Highlands and Islands—could make Wick more attractive to airlines. Without such support, commercial services may remain sporadic or disappear entirely.
A combination of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding, targeted tax relief, and regional economic development could stabilise the airport. Without intervention, Wick risks long‑term decline, with serious implications for connectivity in Caithness and the far north.
Forecast
Wick faces a high‑risk future, with survival dependent on targeted government support and favourable ADT policy.
Tourism and Economic Impact
Aberdeen
A well‑designed ADT could:
Boost inbound tourism from Europe
Support business travel and conference activity
Strengthen the airport’s role as a regional hub
But higher taxes could push travellers to fly from Edinburgh or Newcastle instead.
Wick
For Wick, the stakes are higher. Affordable air travel is essential for:
Attracting visitors to Caithness and the far north
Supporting local businesses
Ensuring residents have access to essential services
A zero‑rate ADT could help rebuild confidence among airlines and passengers alike.
A Policy Choice That Will Shape Scotland’s Aviation Future
The introduction of Air Departure Tax marks a turning point for Scotland’s aviation sector. For Aberdeen, it presents an opportunity to strengthen its position as a key regional hub. For Wick, it may determine whether the airport can sustain scheduled flights at all.
The Scottish Government now faces a strategic choice: use ADT to support regional connectivity and economic development, or risk widening the gap between Scotland’s major airports and its most remote communities.
The future of both Aberdeen and Wick may depend on which path is chosen.