The UK and US have come to an agreement regarding open skies following Brexit. The new deal will replace the existing European Union (EU) aviation agreement with the US.
The deal guarantees that aircraft flying the transatlantic route out of the UK will have the same access to the US as they currently have, allowing airlines to continue to operate between the two continents.
Chris Grayling, UK transport secretary, said the agreement will assist the UK in maintaining its status as a major regional hub. “This new arrangement and those concluded with eight other countries around the world are proof that the UK will continue to be a major player on the world stage after we leave the EU.”
The other agreements that have been finalised are with Albania, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, Morocco and Switzerland. Discussions with Canada are at an "advanced stage", according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
Willie Walsh, ceo of the International Airlines Group added that the agreement is based on the Model US Open Skies Agreement. “It facilitates strong competition and is clearly pro-consumer.”
Additionally, the DfT said: “The political declaration between the UK and EU provides for a comprehensive air transport agreement to ensure connectivity for passenger and cargo flights through market access for UK and EU airlines.”
According to the BBC, the deal allows for EU majority-owned airlines to continue operations on existing routes between the UK and US, as long as they remain in the ownership of EU or UK nationals. Airlines that do not meet this requirement will need to seek a waiver from the US government.
