Article from BTNews 31 JULY 2017
Ryanair's Brexit threat
As easyJet forges ahead with its post-Brexit plans (see story this issue), Ryanair has said it has put “contingency plans” in place to deal with the potential impact on its operations of leaving the EU.
CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline could move “some or all” of its UK-based aircraft to continental Europe from April 2019 if it does not receive “certainty” about the legal basis for operations between the UK and the EU by autumn 2018.
O’Leary’s airline is campaigning for the UK to stay in the EU Single Aviation Market, but he warned if the UK leaves the agreement there may “not be sufficient time or goodwill” to negotiate a separate deal to allow flights to continue from April 2019.
“We, like all airlines, seek clarity on this issue before we publish our summer 2019 schedule in the second quarter of 2018,” added O’Leary.
“We have contingency plans in place and will, as always, adapt to changed circumstances in the best interests of our customers and shareholders.”
O’Leary’s comments came as Ryanair announced an 55% increase in pre-tax profits to €443.7m for the three months to 30 June, up from €286.5m for the same quarter in 2016.
BTN has been invited to a news conference on Wednesday (2 August) in London hosted by O'Leary. What will it bring?
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