3 SEPTEMBER 2018

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Article from BTNews 3 SEPTEMBER 2018

Airports' Brexit warning

The chief executive of the group which runs Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports has effectively backed claims that a no-deal Brexit could wreck ex-UK air travel.

Derek Provan, head of AGS Airports, said a “worst case scenario” could see aircraft grounded because most flights are routed through the EU and without a deal on airspace protocol it would be impossible for them to take off.

He noted that dozens of agreements currently allow airlines to enter EU countries’ airspace, but these would be rendered void at the end of March next year if the UK government fails to secure a Brexit agreement.

Provan’s warning follows similar remarks by Professor John Lennon, director of the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, who said travellers would face less choice, higher prices and steeper insurance costs.

He added flights could face “significant disruption” as UK negotiators faced the “colossal” task of securing new air access agreements to destinations worldwide and people travelling abroad would need cover for flight delays and medical repatriation costs.

Lennon also pointed out there was visa uncertainty about entry into Europe post-March 2019, and claimed UK travellers would no longer benefit from the EU-led abolition of data roaming charges.

www.glasgowairport.com

www.gcu.ac.uk

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum


David Starkie, London

On the last point on roaming charges, did I not read recently that mobile service providers have undertaken not to re-introduce separate roaming charges for the EU deal or no-deal?


George Cormack , Glasgow

It is unlikely that overflights will be denied as It should be bourne in mind that any EU overflight deal must consider reciprocal rights to EU originating flights to North America and Iceland which fly through UK airspace.


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