19 NOVEMBER 2018

Index


© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.

Article from BTNews 19 NOVEMBER 2018

COMMENT SPECIAL: Post-Brexit flights

BTN joins the representatives of Britain’s airlines and airports in welcoming last week’s clarification from the European Commission that contrary to earlier rumour flights between the UK and EU would continue in the event of a “no deal” Brexit.

In a joint statement, Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, and Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “We welcome that the European Commission has joined the UK Government in providing further reassurance to passengers and businesses that flights will continue whatever happens over the coming weeks.

“That said, a comprehensive bilateral air services agreement between the UK and EU remains the best way to protect market access post-Brexit and is clearly in the interests of both sides.”

The European announcement said Brussels had drawn up plans that will allow British planes to take off, land and fly over the EU even if there is no deal.

Also in the interests of clarity, BTN is publishing the EU document.

It reads: “The Commission will propose measures to ensure that air carriers from the United Kingdom are allowed to fly over the territory of the European Union, make technical stops, as well as land in the European Union and fly back to the United Kingdom.”

The document adds: “Those measures would be subject to the condition that the United Kingdom applies equivalent measures to air carriers from the European Union.”

Brussels said it would also implement a "one stop security system" that will prevent British travellers having their luggage screened twice when flying from the UK and changing in the EU before reaching their final destinations.

Among others to welcome the statement, UKIP European Parliament member Margot Parker said she was pleased the EU was finally showing some "pragmatism".

She said stories that flights would be grounded “was nonsense from the start and I'm delighted to see them coming to their senses. Of course, they want British tourists to spend their pounds or euros in Spain and elsewhere.”

The EU said Britain would also be added to a list of countries whose travellers don't require a visa when making visits to EU member states of 90 days or less, allaying fears British travellers could be charged £52 to enter the bloc.

Index/Home page
 

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


John Burke, England

This confirms what I predicted last year on this site. SAS and BA/IAG already straddle in and out areas. Other anomalies include Greenland, now out, and three French colonies in the Caribbean.


Paul Sawyer, Ruthin

The quotes blame Brussels for being unreasonable, my understanding is that it was the British Media that \'created\' this story and the EU had to quosh it.


Andrew Sharp, Surbiton

Does anyone know the answer to BA's conundrum?


Graham Greenwood, REDDITCH

Air travel is only one quite small problem, red this in its entirety to get a more comprehensive picture! https://endthechaos.co.uk/mission


www.btnews.co.uk