Airports in the dark on Open Skies after Brexit

The UK’s largest airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, have warned the Government that flights to Europe could be suspended should it fail to reach a deal on aviation in the wake of Brexit.

The EU Open Skies agreement introduced in the Nineties provides uniform rules for the airlines and airports of member states and has helped cultivate a booming airport network allowing British holidaymakers to fly to hundreds of destinations on the Continent. One in two passengers handled by UK airports flies to an EU member state.

But ACI Europe, the European region of Airports Council International, which represents more than 500 airports in 45 countries, including 21 hubs in the UK, said such freedom will not be maintained if the Government does not develop a strategy on “air connectivity” once outside the EU. It warned legal issues could mean that all flights between the EU and the UK are grounded.

“The clock has been ticking since March and negotiations began last month,” said Olivier Jankovec, the organisation’s director general. “Yet we remain completely in the dark as to what will happen on April 1 2019, and we have no idea how long this uncertainty will persist.

“The fact that the UK has yet to define a clear and detailed position as to what it wants – not just in terms of its new relationship with the EU, but also about how to transition there – is not helping. This only results in precious time being lost and potentially increases the risk of a no-deal scenario – which should be avoided at all cost, as it could ultimately result in flights between the UK and EU being suspended.”

Mr Jankovec said the position of the UK’s airports and airlines is more urgent than other industries’ because the World Trade Organisation rules, to which the UK would revert should no deal be reached with the EU, does not cover air travel. In the absence of a deal, aviation would fall into a legal vacuum which if not addressed could simply mean no flights, he said.

The ACI earlier this year warned that the UK is risking 270,000 jobs and €15.4 billion (£13.7 billion) a year if it damages its aviation relationship with the EU. This week Michael O’Leary, the Ryanair boss, told the European Parliament that Heathrow will be deserted, holidays cancelled and Ryanair aircraft moved to Europe, if the principles of Open Skies are not retained. Willie Walsh, CEO of IAG, which owns British Airways, said securing a deal between the EU and UK should be straightforward.