UK’s top airports say passenger bookings could drop by 41% if Brexit open skies deal isn’t sorted by October 2018
THE number of people booking flights at some of the UK’s biggest airports could fall by almost half because of Brexit.
The warning was made in a confidential report that had been compiled for the government by Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Manchester and Stansted airports.
The report, which was leaked to warned that there are deep concerns over whether the current open skies agreement that we have with EU countries will continue.
According to the news channel, growing uncertainty over the agreement “risks triggering a catastrophic slump in British air travel.”
The airports have called for an early aviation agreement between Britain and the EU or risk seeing flights grounded.
At worst, passenger bookings could drop by 41 per cent at the biggest airports – a drop of 16.2 million journeys – between March 2018 and March 2019 if no agreement is put in place.
That would mean 297,000 less flights a year, costing the airports millions.
According to Sky, the report is thought to be the first time that the airports have ever joined forces.
It reads: "With airlines, passengers and airports having to plan months if not years in advance, this has potentially detrimental consequences for UK competitiveness, trade, growth and living standards.
“[These] all become more significant the longer that UK and EU negotiators fail to deliver a new trading relationship or transitional deal.”
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"Although an 11th-hour deal may prevent planes from being grounded, damage to the aviation industry and the wider economy would have already been done."
The report echoes similar arguments made by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary – both argue that the UK needs to make an early deal with the EU over aviation because the industry plans its flights so far in advance.
The airline boss said that Ryanair would start cancelling flights six months before the March 2019 date when Britain is due to leave the EU with or without a deal.
A Heathrow spokesperson told Sun Online: “Government continues to engage effectively with the aviation industry and we are confident they understand our sector and the role it plays for the wider economy. Like all UK businesses, we and other airports, are working together with government looking at the impacts and opportunities of Brexit. This work remains ongoing whilst negotiations are underway and we continue to work closely with our Government on all Brexit matters.”
