The vote was passed to introduce a Scottish rate of APD. The new rates will be decided in a later vote. I beleive it will go one of two ways, a 50% reduction for everyone initially with a view to getting rid, or a freeze on short haul APD rates and a scrapping of long haul rates altogether. The rates are due to be decided later on this year or early next year with a view to the changes coming in to force next autumn.
Why is it absurd? The idea is to boost direct air links to Scotland by removing this ridiculous tax. Yes, we are seeing growth, but surely anything to further boost that would be good? I know some English airports were up in arms about this (NCL being the most vocal), claiming it was unfair. They could have focused their attention on getting their own APD rates changed or scrapped, but decide instead to focus their anger on Scotland which has historically always been more expensive to fly from. At the very least this will bring some competition.