Flying into the Unknown: The UK’s Air Transport Relations with the European Union and Third Countries Following ‘Brexit’

Abstract

The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union following the results of the referendum held on 23 June 2016 leaves a lot of uncertainty for the future in many areas and particularly air transport due to its high degree of regulation and international nature. Almost every area of air transport is affected – from access to the internal aviation market and external aviation policy to air traffic management within the Single European Sky. Solutions to the UK’s air transport relations with its strategic partners are likely to depend on the form of its partnership with the European Union. The focus of negotiations is therefore likely to be on modelling a relationship with the European Union that would take into account both the desires to retain access to the liberalized air services market and maintain close cooperation between strategic partners, and an appreciation of the UK’s new geopolitical self-determination. The European Common Aviation Area, Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement, European Economic Area and the European Union-Switzerland agreements are all useful models, but come with advantages and disadvantages, and it would appear that the unique position of the UK requires a tailored solution. This article analyses some of the key issues of concern to the UK aviation industry and ways in which these could be addressed so as to provide some ‘food for thought’ in the pursuit of the best model for cooperation.