THE Scottish government must turbocharge talks with Westminster to tax private jets and curb the “reckless pollution” that is fuelling the climate crisis, Oxfam Scotland has urged.

The charity warns in a report today that emissions from the private jets of 23 billionaires are the equivalent of 35 million train journeys between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street. 

Slapping a tax on the nearly 13,000 private flights in Scotland last year could have raised almost £30m, or £21m if flights to remote islands were exempted, it said.

Air departure tax is already devolved, with exemptions already in place for lifeline services to Scotland’s remote islands, and First Minister John Swinney has described calls for a levy on private jets a “welcome suggestion.”

But his SNP administration has so far refused to introduce it, arguing that similar exemptions would require British government agreement.

Arguing there is no meaningful obstacle to an agreement, Oxfam Scotland’s Jamie 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 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.”