LNIDA: There are currently no scheduled flights between Aberdeen and the Central Belt or between Inverness and the Central Belt. There used to be flights on these routes but they couldn't compete with surface transportation after rail services and roads were improved and APD steadily increased.
Am surprised by this. Although improved, it's still not a quick journey from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Aberdeen and/or Inverness by road or rail. When were these ended?
So i would expect the volume on the LHR shuttles to increase for both BA & VS, but i don't really see many new destinations ex Scotland direct.
Indeed, there won't be. If we look at Norway, the country that "wee Eck" likes to compare to a Scotland that has separated from the UK, most lonhaul pax to/from Norway have to transit through hubs such as LHR, CPH, AMS and/or FRA (depending on the carrier). It is the same for all small European countries (except the Netherlands if that is considered to be a "small" country).
Will Scotland keep +44 for international telephone calls or need a new country code? a £ or 2 in reprinting
Certainly would make sense, Canada, the USA, and most of the west Indies share a "country" code (+1), but don't hold your breath.
It appears from several of the posts that the big winners out of APD changes north of the border will be BA and VS who will be able to cash in a bit more from their connections through LHR and LGW, both of course non-Scottish based businesses.
It would be marginal. These routes would remain for simple commercial reasons.
Judging by some of the posts on this thread, the impression given is that Scotland is becoming seriously divided and polarised over the issue of separation or better together. Irrespective of the outcome on 18 September, this is will be damaging dangerous for the future, or, to put it in politician-speak "
going forward".