‘Common sense should prevail’ to keep airlines flying after Brexit

Common sense will prevail to keep airlines flying after Brexit, a European airlines chief has told an annual conference in Edinburgh.

Montserrat Barriga, director general of the European Regional Airlines Association (ERA), said yesterday she was optimistic about the outcome.

She said: “We often hear ‘common sense will prevail’. I personally think people’s and companies’ needs will prevail and there will be a positive agreement. I am optimistic, but still realistic.”

The association represents 50 airlines, including Loganair, Flybmi and Flybe, which transport 74 million passengers a year on 1,800 routes in a European industry that employ 300,000 people.

However, Ms Barriga also warned the ERA general assembly at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre it would have to lobby hard to achieve that Brexit outcome in March.

She said: “European citizens need an open and unrestricted bilateral agreement between the EU and the UK.

“An early and favourable resolution of Brexit negotiations is urgently needed.”

“The EU and the UK need to be far more transparent. Do we really think there will be aircraft grounded because of the lack of a political agreement?”