/Call for PM to clear air on Open Skies after Brexit

AN airline is calling on the government to spell out exactly how Brexit will affect the travel industry.

Ryanair is calling on Teresa May to quickly address how Brexit will affect the Open Skies agreement.

The arrangement, between the EU and the United States, allows any airline in the US or EU to fly between any point in both.

Ryanair’s chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs says that until the government provides more clarity on the issues, airlines will struggle to plan ahead.

He said: “We need to know by this time next year what the situation will be. By that time, we will be planning for April 2019 so we need to know what the regulations will be as a matter of urgency.”

Kenny added that the government had missed an opportunity in failing to scrap airport tax in the budget.

He said: “The UK government last week missed a golden tourism opportunity in the Spring Budget by retaining APD.

“We urge the government to follow the Irish example and scrap APD entirely to allow traffic, tourism and jobs to grow and ensure UK regional airports can compete and attract more business, particularly with in the face of Brexit uncertainty.

“Taxing tourists at the point of entry simply makes countries less attractive to airlines and visitors, particularly for regional UK airports.”