Brexit & Aviation 71

I have an admiration for the staff at the House of Commons library. At least someone is trying to keep track of what’s going on[1].

So far, there have been 475 Brexit related Statutory Instruments (SIs) laid before the UK Parliament. That’s 79% of the expected 600 SIs. In other words, a great deal of new UK legislation that needs to be in place the day after Brexit. What’s astonishing is that we hear nothing from our law-makers about these acts of law-making. The total focus is on the uncertainly over the direction that will be taken by the UK. There are statements that Brexit is “deadlocked” but there remain many choices that can be made. However, unless something is agreed exiting European Union (EU) treaties will, by automatic process of law, cease to apply to the UK in 18 day[2].

This situation impacts treaties with non-EU Countries too. A House of Commons library paper looks at the UK Government’s progress in renegotiating and agreeing replacement treaties with Countries outside of the EU[3].

The UK Government has published a policy on EU Air Services[4]. Unfortunately, there’s little new in the policy and it’s substantially worse than the current arrangements. Airlines are enacting their contingency measures, but much remains unknown. For example; Ryanair[5] have said:

“We welcome the Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to grant our UK based airline, Ryanair UK, with a UK AOC, allowing Ryanair to operate UK domestic routes and UK to non-EU routes in a post-Brexit environment.

The risk of a ‘no deal’ Brexit in March is rising, and despite our robust post-Brexit structures, including our post-Brexit plan around European ownership, we continue to call for the UK and EU to agree a transition deal from 31 March 2019, so that any disruption to flights and British consumer summer holidays in 2019 can be avoided.”

The robust post-Brexit structure they are talking about is to change the voting rights of British shareholders such that the rules of being a European airline can be met.

For travellers who contemplate booking holidays or flights to, from or via the UK it may be prudent to wait for a few days. Certainly, there’s a need to take out travel insurance that can cover a flight cancellation as a result of Brexit. The insurance sector maybe one that will be benefiting from the increase in uncertainty but that’s their job.

[1] http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8370/CBP-8370.pdf

[2] https://interactive.news.sky.com/2017/brexit-countdown/

[3] https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8370

[4] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/air-services-from-the-eu-to-the-uk-in-the-event-of-no-deal

[5] https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-welcomes-caas-issuing-of-uk-aoc-for-ryanair-uk/