Europe’s airports call on the UK to set Brexit position and safeguard air connectivity

The European airport industry has renewed its warning about Brexit and its potential impact on European air transport, connectivity and the wider economy during a public hearing on the subject in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

ACI Europe has called on the UK to urgently come up with a detailed and comprehensive position on Brexit for aviation. The organization says this position should allow the UK to safeguard and further develop its air connectivity with EU countries and the wider world.

ACI Europe also claims the UK’s continued participation in the Single European Aviation Market would be the best option for the country.

Olivier Jankovec, director general, ACI Europe, said, “The clock has been ticking since March and negotiations already began last month. 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 the EU being suspended.”

The organization says the future of aviation should be prioritized within Brexit discussions and urged the UK and each of the EU27 countries to look at what alternative legal framework would apply to aviation in the case of a no-deal scenario as part of their own contingencies.