Europe airlines face ‘precarious’ Brexit transition

European airlines are facing a “precarious” transition as uncertainty surrounding Britain’s exit from the EU intensifies in the industry. Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, said he feared “hardcore Brexiters” were putting in doubt a draft transition deal that would allow airlines to continue flying freely between the UK and EU. UK PM Theresa May had agreed to the draft transition in March, but Jacobs feared pressure from pro-Brexit MPs would lead to the deal not being signed. This would mean there was no UK-EU agreement in place after Britain’s exit. If this happens, Ryanair would lose rights to fly freely into the UK and its few intra-UK routes could also be impaired. From the UK’s perspective, Britain-based airlines including BA and Virgin Atlantic would also lose rights to fly freely into the EU and US. Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary has previously warned about the threat to airlines from Brexit. In the company’s full-year results for 2016-17, O’Leary said: “Until we get clarity over the final terms of the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU, there must be significant uncertainty over flights between the UK and the EU for a period of time from March 2019 onwards.” Jacobs said he wished President Emmanuel Macron of France “godspeed” with his efforts to reform French institutions, including Air France-KLM.<br/>