Government warns of flight disruption in event of ‘no deal’ Brexit

Business and leisure travellers could be set for lengthy delays in the case of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, according to the latest round of technical notices.

The papers say that flights could be disrupted because airlines wouldn’t hold valid licenses to fly in each others’ airspace.

The government said: “If there is ‘no deal’ with the EU, airlines wishing to operate flights between the UK and the EU would have to seek individual permissions to operate from the respective states (be that the UK or an EU country). In this scenario the UK would envisage granting permission to EU airlines to continue to operate. We would expect EU countries to reciprocate in turn. It would not be in the interest of any EU country or the UK to restrict the choice of destinations that could be served, though, if such permissions are not granted, there could be disruption to some flights.”

In order to ensure permissions were granted and flights continued, the UK government’s preference would be to agree a basic arrangement or understanding on a multilateral basis between the UK and the EU. Alternatively, bilateral arrangements between the UK and an individual EU country could be put in place, says the notice, specifying the conditions under which air services would be permitted. By definition any such agreement would be reciprocal in nature. The European Commission has previously acknowledged that a ‘bare bones’ agreement on air services would be desirable in the event of the UK leaving with ‘no deal’.

For airlines licensed outside the UK and the EU, their eligibility to operate air services to the UK is be determined by the ASA between the UK and the state in which they are licensed, says the government. For airlines from one of the 111 countries with whom the UK has a bilateral ASA, including China, India and Brazil, there will be no change.

However, for airlines from one of the 17 non-EU countries with whom air services to the UK are currently provided for by virtue of the UK’s membership of the EU, replacement arrangements will be in place before exit day.

The government said: “The UK is working closely with these countries to agree replacement, bilateral arrangements designed to come into force as soon as the EU-negotiated agreements cease to apply to the UK. The UK has already agreed a number of these agreements, and is confident the remaining agreements will be agreed well in advance of the UK leaving the EU.”