Ryanair, EasyJet say soft Brexit won't ease airline concerns

The UK govt’s possible shift to a softer position on Brexit that would prioritise the economy over immigration curbs has failed to assuage concerns at Ryanair and EasyJet about the impact of the split from the EU. Europe’s top budget airlines called on politicians to make aviation a key focus when formal Brexit talks start next week. As things stand, Britain will exit an accord granting EU carriers free movement across the bloc, forcing the industry to fall back on restrictive bilateral deals and potentially grounding flights, Ryanair warned, even if both carriers labelled as “positive” a potential change in prime minister Theresa May’s stance after losing her parliamentary majority. “A softer Brexit doesn’t guarantee the continuation of open skies,” Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair’s marketing chief, said. <br/>