What will happen to air travel after Brexit on 29 March?

The day the United Kingdom will leave the EU "family" has almost arrived!

Although several issues have not yet been settled, one of the hottest topics regarding what will happen the day after Brexit is tourism and travel to the United Kingdom.

At Travelo, we will try to explain all the questions that have arisen concerning what will apply to flights and air travel after Brexit.

 

What will happen to flights after Brexit?

Currently, all EU citizens travel freely within Europe and the United Kingdom thanks to the Open Skies agreement and open borders.

Under this agreement, airlines like Easyjet and Ryanair have flourished, operating dozens of flights to and from the United Kingdom.

But what is the future for flights between the United Kingdom and the EU?

Ryanair's CEO had previously stated, addressing Britons, that they would "no longer have cheap holidays" due to Brexit and the extra charges that would arise.

Conversely, the CEO of Easyjet states that probably nothing will change much after Brexit, at least regarding flights.

However, to minimise the side effects of a Brexit, Easyjet has already moved 130 aircraft to Austria, as well as a large stock of spare parts, to be prepared for all eventualities.

Therefore, regarding flights and air tickets issued to and from the United Kingdom, their future will become clear in the immediate future.

 

What will happen to flight compensation?

Currently, all airlines operating flights within Europe (whether departing from an EU city, arriving in an EU city, or both) are obliged to comply with Regulation EC 261/2004, which, among other things, outlines potential compensation such as compensation for flight cancellation, etc.

The British government, anticipating Brexit, has stated that it will not change these rules and will continue to require all airlines operating flights within the United Kingdom to adhere to these regulations for travellers.

So, if the government adopts the existing EU Regulation 261/2004 into British law, then things will continue as they are now.

 

What will happen to passports?

If you have a British passport, after 29 March 2019 you will be considered a national of a third country and not an EU citizen.

This means that to travel, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from your destination!

However, for British travellers, a 6-month validity period for their passport's expiry date will apply.

 

Will British citizens need a visa to visit Europe, and likewise, will Europeans need one to visit Britain?

It is most likely that there will be bilateral agreements between the EU member states and Britain to avoid any visa procedures that would significantly reduce travellers from one country to another.

More details regarding Brexit and what will happen with travel will be announced in the coming days.

If you have booked flights to London after 29 March, it would be wise to have a passport issued to avoid any surprises!