People’s Party lawmaker calls for review of flight subsidy changes

A lawmaker from Iceland’s People’s Party says changes to the Loftbrú flight subsidy scheme should be reviewed, citing the cost for people on lower incomes who live far from the capital region. The comments were reported by mbl.is.

Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir, who represents the Northwest constituency, said the new system could make flights that people rely on too expensive. From the start of next year, the subsidy will be 7,000 krónur per flight leg, replacing the current subsidy of 40% of the fare. Residents outside the capital region will remain eligible for six subsidised flight legs a year.

Lilja said she could speak only for herself, but expected the view that the changes should be reconsidered to be widespread within the party. She said Infrastructure Minister Eyjólfur Ármannsson, a fellow party member, was looking into the matter.

The changes had been discussed within the party’s parliamentary group, Lilja said, but the details had not been known at the time.

Asked about remarks by the chair of the Association of Municipalities in East Iceland, who said the minister had betrayed people outside the capital region, Lilja said she would not pass judgment. “Consultation is always good, and I simply don’t know how it was handled,” she said.