Young Independence Party members urge government to drop flight subsidy change

Young Independence Party members in Fjarðabyggð are urging the government to abandon a planned change to the Loftbrú flight subsidy scheme, according to a statement reported by mbl.is.

The change would replace a 40% discount on airfares with a subsidy of 9,000 Icelandic krónur for each flight leg. Fjarðabyggð’s town council has already criticised the proposal.

The group, Hávarr, says flights between East Iceland and the capital region are often more expensive than shorter routes. A fixed subsidy therefore covers a smaller share of the cost on more expensive journeys, it said, while any fare increases would fall on passengers and reduce the subsidy’s value over time.

Hávarr says the change would directly affect young people’s access to education, cultural activities, sports and a range of jobs. Young people in East Iceland already face longer and more costly journeys to access opportunities available closer to home, the statement said.

The group argues that making it harder for young people to live in East Iceland conflicts with the government’s stated goal of supporting strong communities. It urged the government to drop the planned change and find ways to strengthen Loftbrú, saying young people should not have to leave home to access opportunities comparable to those available elsewhere in the country.