Transport committee to hold one-off session on Aviation and Brexit

As a member of the European Common Aviation Area, UK airlines currently have the right to fly to, from and within European countries. This also gives the UK flying rights to other major third party countries including the USA and Canada.

On leaving the EU on March 2019, the UK will no longer be guaranteed automatic flying rights unless a transitional deal to continue current arrangements is negotiated ahead of the Brexit deadline. Without this, the UK will fall back to outdated bilateral agreements and international conventions negotiated prior to European aviation liberalisation in the early 1990s.

Because airlines, airports and passengers plan travel many months in advance, failure to secure a transitional deal for flying rights may incur significant cost to the aviation sector and the wider economy.

Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP, commented:

“The Secretary of State presented a confident view of the situation post-Brexit for UK aviation, when he appeared in front of our committee last week.

"In our session on 30^th October, we will test whether this optimism is justified when we hear from the UK’s leading airlines and airports with a view to getting their take on the current progress of negotiations and the potential implications from delays in securing a transitional deal for aviation.”

The session will be held on Monday 30^th October, from 4.45pm, room to be confirmed

Witnesses:

• John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive, Heathrow Airport
• Sophie Dekkers, UK Director, EasyJet
• Tim Hawkins, Corporate Affairs Director, Manchester Airports Group
• Willie Walsh, Chief Executive, International Airlines Group