Brexit negotiator warns UK air transport industry faces 'severe disruption'

BTN News
Monday, 27 March 2017

The yet-to-start two-year UK-leaving-the-EU (Brexit) negotiations that are slated to end in March 2019 have been described as 'unknown territory' by Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator, who told media that a “no-deal scenario” (where the UK and EU sever ties without a replacement trade agreement) is a “distinct possibility” and that this would have “severe consequences” for the UK and for the rest of the EU.

“Severe disruption to air transport and long queues at the Channel port of Dover are just some of the many examples of the negative consequences of failing to reach a deal,” he told the FT. 

Barnier also claimed that there would have to be an agreement on what Britain owed the EU (the bill is said to be about GBP50 billion, covering the UK's share of the bloc's already-committed future expenditure) early in the process 

if the talks were to proceed smoothly.

UK prime minister Theresa May also has been told the government faces opposition from Labour when it tables the “great repeal bill” designed to give ministers sweeping powers to rewrite laws with minimal interference from parliament.

MICEBTN carries an overview of Brexit's impact on the travel industry and airlines in its current on-line e-zine, available for download here.

Brexit negotiator warns UK air transport industry faces 'severe disruption'

BTN News
Monday, 27 March 2017

The yet-to-start two-year UK-leaving-the-EU (Brexit) negotiations that are slated to end in March 2019 have been described as 'unknown territory' by Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator, who told media that a “no-deal scenario” (where the UK and EU sever ties without a replacement trade agreement) is a “distinct possibility” and that this would have “severe consequences” for the UK and for the rest of the EU.

“Severe disruption to air transport and long queues at the Channel port of Dover are just some of the many examples of the negative consequences of failing to reach a deal,” he told the FT. 

Barnier also claimed that there would have to be an agreement on what Britain owed the EU (the bill is said to be about GBP50 billion, covering the UK's share of the bloc's already-committed future expenditure) early in the process 

if the talks were to proceed smoothly.

UK prime minister Theresa May also has been told the government faces opposition from Labour when it tables the “great repeal bill” designed to give ministers sweeping powers to rewrite laws with minimal interference from parliament.

MICEBTN carries an overview of Brexit's impact on the travel industry and airlines in its current on-line e-zine, available for download here.