Extreme as this might sound, Ryanair say that it is a ‘distinct possibility’.
Ryanair has warned of the ‘distinct possibility’ of no flights between Europe and the UK for a period of time following Britain’s scheduled exit from the European Union in March 2019.
UK Prime Minster Theresa May officially triggered Article 50 on Wednesday, thus beginning the negotiation process of Britain’s eventual exit from the EU, which is due to happen in two years’ time.
The PM has signed the letter which will trigger Article 50 tomorrow, starting negotiations for the UK to leave the EU. pic.twitter.com/jHerwJs4g9
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 28, 2017
Ryanair has called on the UK Government to put aviation at the forefront of its negotiations with the EU and to provide a coherent post-Brexit plan, or risk leaving the UK without any flights to and from Europe for a period from March 2019, when it exits the EU.
With the UK set to leave Europe’s “Open Skies” system, the UK Government will either have to negotiate a bilateral agreement with the EU to allow flights to and from Europe to continue or else revert to historical WTO rules.
Those rules do not cover aviation, thereby raising the distinct possibility of no flights between Europe and the UK for a period from March 2019 in the absence of a bilateral deal.
Ryanair has already pivoted growth away from the UK to other EU airports, basing no additional aircraft at its 19 UK airports in 2017 and cutting its growth rate from 15% to just 6% this year.
On the day Article 50 was triggered, Ryanair called on the UK Government to immediately outline a strategy to maintain low fare air travel between the UK and the EU from March 2019 and warned there were just 12 months to go until possible schedule cuts are made, as summer 2019 schedules must be released in March 2018.
Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs said: “Some nine months on from the Brexit referendum, we are no closer to knowing what effect it will have on aviation. It’s become worrying that the UK Government seems to have no plan B to maintain Britain’s liberalised air links with Europe, in the absence of remaining in the “Open Skies” regime.
“With Britain planning to leave the EU and its Open Skies agreement, there is a distinct possibility that there may be no flights between the UK and Europe for a period of time after March 2019. The best we can hope for is a new bilateral agreement between the UK and EU, however, we worry that Britain may not be able to negotiate such a bilateral in time for the release by airlines of summer 2019 schedules in mid-2018.
“Ryanair, like all airlines, plans its flights 12 months in advance, so there are just 12 months to go until we finalise our summer 2019 schedule, which could see deep cuts to our flights both to, from and within the UK from March 2019 onwards.
“The UK Government must respond to the airlines and our customers, and put aviation at the top of its agenda when it negotiates its Brexit deal with Brussels. Britain’s airlines, airports and holidaymakers need a real and early solution for aviation, or risk Britain being cut off from Europe in March 2019.”
