EU-UK flights could be grounded in no-deal Brexit

The Department for Transport (DfT) in London spelled out Monday the potential impact on air travel if Britain leaves the European Union without a new deal.

Media reports said in a no-deal could see some flights between Britain and EU members grounded if Britain crashes out of the bloc without a deal, and without an emergency deal to keep flights operating.

The DfT released six technical notices setting out plans to be put into place if Britain and the EU failed to strike a post-Brexit deal.

The documents detailed the potential impact of a no deal scenario on transport policy, including people flying or driving vehicles from and to Europe as well as the affects of the haulage industry.

It would affect millions of passengers every year, unless both sides agree to allow planes to continue flying.

The British government said it will unilaterally grant EU airlines permission to land at British airports and hopes that EU members would reciprocate.

But the document added: "If the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no agreement in place, UK and EU licensed airlines would lose the automatic right to operate air services between the UK and the EU without seeking advance permission."

The DfT said there would be no disruption to air traffic control across British airspace as this is guaranteed under international conventions.

The notice added there will be more information in the coming months, with the aim of giving aviation businesses and passengers as much certainty as possible ahead of Britain's exit from the EU next March.

The document added: "Negotiations are progressing well and both we and the EU continue to work hard to seek a positive deal. However, it's our duty as a responsible government to prepare for all eventualities, including 'no deal', until we can be certain of the outcome of those negotiations."

It added that if Britain leaves the EU with no agreement in place, Britain and EU licensed airlines would lose the automatic right to operate air services between the UK and the EU without seeking advance permission.

This would mean, said the advice, that airlines operating between Britain and the EU would need to seek individual permissions to operate. EU-licensed airlines would lose the ability to operate wholly within Britain, for example from London Heathrow to Edinburgh, and Britain-licensed airlines would lose the ability to operate intra-EU air services, such as from Milan to Paris.

The latest papers also said people taking dogs and cats on holiday to EU countries may have to make preparations for pet travel at least four months in advance instead of the current two months.

The DfT said that for business, a more proactive approach will be necessary to ensure new procedures are in place for March 2019.

Included in the latest papers were recommendations hauliers may want to take step to prepare for any future trailer registration requirements, and to ensure drivers have the right documentation.