UK government warns flights to and from Ireland could cease in case of no-deal Brexit
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UK government warns flights to and from Ireland could cease in case of no-deal Brexit

THE UK government has warned that flights could cease between the UK and the rest of the EU if Britain leaves without a deal.

In a set of “no deal” notices released yesterday, the UK government issued a warning that flights could be disrupted as a result of the EU-issued aviation licenses.

They warned that under EU law, it would not be valid for UK airlines to operate without the specific licenses and that each airline would have to seek individual permissions to fly within respective states.

In other words, if by March 2019 Britain is forced to leave the EU without a deal, all flights will be grounded.

The official statement reads: "If the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no agreement in place, UK and EU licensed airlines would lose the automatic right to operate air services between the UK and the EU without seeking advance permission.

The government says it would unilaterally grant EU airlines permission to land at British airports and hopes that member states would reciprocate.

"We’ll provide more information in the coming months, with the aim of giving aviation businesses and passengers as much certainty as possible ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU.”

Furthermore, the UK government released an updated document yesterday on the rights of travel for British and Irish citizens in the case of a no-deal Brexit after March of next year.

It reads: “If you are an Irish citizen you would continue to have the right to enter and remain in the UK, as now. You are not required to do anything to protect your status.

“In addition, you would continue to enjoy the reciprocal rights associated with the CTA in the same way that British citizens in Ireland would if there is no deal. These rights include the right to work, study and vote, access to social welfare benefits and health services. Where required domestic legislation and agreements would be updated to ensure that the CTA rights continue to have a clear legal basis.

“There would be no practical changes to the UK’s approach to immigration on journeys within the CTA: as now there would be no routine immigration controls on journeys from within the CTA to the UK. The legislation governing this approach will remain unchanged when the UK leaves the EU. So too will the legislative framework of integrated immigration laws between the UK and the Crown Dependencies. The CTAarrangements would be maintained, promoting the benefits of migration between these islands.”