Airline industry angry over potential for ‘risky’ Brexit deadlock
Carriers have warned cross-Channel flights may be grounded for lack of insurance if pilot licences and safety standards are not recognised after Britain leaves EU
The impasse between Britain and the EU in Brexit negotiations is “crazy” and “risky” for airlines with time running out to ensure cross-Channel flights can continue unimpeded, the world’s airline body has warned.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents around 290 airlines, raised the alarm after Britain issued new guidance to spell out a worst-case scenario for aviation in the event it fails to reach a deal with Brussels.
The guidance “clearly exposes the extreme seriousness of what is at stake and underscores the huge amount of work that would be required to maintain vital air links”, IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac said in a statement on Wednesday.
The government technical paper stressed that without an overarching Brexit deal, airlines will have to seek two different approvals from each of the rest of the 27 EU members to ensure they have the regulatory framework to fly.
Airlines themselves have warned their cross-Channel flights may be grounded for lack of insurance if they cannot be sure their pilots’ licences and safety standards are recognised after Britain leaves the EU on March 29.