Govt says travellers can ‘book with confidence’ in event of ‘no deal’

Chris Graying, the Transport Secretary, has told travellers they can ‘book with confidence’ if the UK leaves the EU with a no-deal agreement, after the European Commission published its contingency action plan.

The plan, in the event of a no-deal, includes a proposal to ensure the continuation of flights between the UK and the EU and a commitment to future travel while offering reassurances that both sides will work to maintain UK and EU transport links.

Grayling said the Government needed to study the detail, but said ‘ensuring flights are maintained between the UK and EU immediately after Brexit’ in the event of a no deal was ‘good news’.

He added: "Whether for business or leisure, travellers can continue to book with confidence."

Announcing the plan, the EC said: "The Commission has today adopted two measures that will avoid full interruption of air traffic between the EU and the UK in the event of no deal.

"These measures will only ensure basic connectivity and in no means replicate the significant advantages of membership of the Single European Sky.

"This is subject to the UK conferring equivalent rights to EU air carriers, as well as the UK ensuring conditions of fair competition."

The plan includes a proposal for a regulation to ensure temporarily (for 12 months) the provision of certain air services between the UK and the EU and a proposal for a regulation to extend temporarily (for nine months) the validity of certain aviation safety licences.

Grayling added: "The UK government has already set out in our technical notices published on September 24, that we would permit EU airlines to fly to the UK and would expect this to be reciprocated.

"We will consider the Commission’s proposals in greater detail over the coming days."

ABTA welcomed Grayling’s statement. Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "UK citizens take over 50 million trips a year to Europe and it is the number one place people plan to visit next year.

"Today both the UK Government and the European Commission reiterated that flights will continue to operate between the UK and the EU after Brexit, and we welcome the Transport Secretary’s clear statement that travellers can continue to book with confidence."

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, the industry association that represents 13 UK carriers, said:  "This is yet further clarity that flights will continue between the UK and EU even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, as we have always said.

"Combined with the excellent progress Government has made in concluding bilateral agreements with third countries – including the United States and Canada – passengers should have every confidence in booking holidays and trips for travel on March 30 and beyond."

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