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UK-Brexit/Airline Industry
London, UK - Aug 22, 2017
1. Various of passengers checking in
2. Check-in sign
3. Passengers taking escalator
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Bond, director, Centre for European Reform:
"Certainly the airline industry is one of the most concerned. Because without the EU open sky's agreement, then British airlines will not be able to fly between European airports. And they may not even be able to fly to European airports."
5. Various of airport staff
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Bond, director, Centre for European Reform:
"But there're clearly some questions. And the head of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has been very clear that a lot of flights simply wouldn't take place if there wasn't clarity on this question of UK access to the EU aviation market."
7. Various of passengers
8. Departures sign
9. London City Airport sign
10. Passenger
United Kingdom(UK)'s departure from the European Union (EU) could cause a 40-percent loss of passengers to the country's airline industry if the government fails to reach a new aviation deal with the EU before October 2018, according to a recent report commissioned by leading British airports.
The Westminster Policy Institute has submitted the report to the British government and urged it to start negotiating over a post-Brexit aviation deal with the EU as soon as possible. The consultancy is acting on behalf of management of major airports in the country, including Manchester Airport, Stansted Airport, Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and London City Airport.
The report warned that if current uncertainties continue, the airports could see the number of their air passengers, most of whom book months in advance, plunge by about 41 percent.
Spokespersons for Manchester Airport and Stansted Airport said a lack of renewed agreement after Brexit would be disadvantageous for UK's airline industry, which is unlike other sectors that can still operate under World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements after Brexit.
"Certainly the airline industry is one of the most concerned. Because without the EU open sky's agreement, then British airlines will not be able to fly between European airports. And they may not even be able to fly to European airports," said Ian Bond, director of Center for European Reform, a think-tank.
The largest low-cost European airline Ryanair of Ireland, flying a lot between Britain and the EU, is concerned about the route after the UK’s exit.
"But there're clearly some questions. And the head of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has been very clear that a lot of flights simply wouldn't take place if there wasn't clarity on this question of UK access to the EU aviation market," said Bond.
The report says that without an early guarantee, EU citizens' withdrawal from Britain after March 2019, when Brexit is expected to take place, alone could seriously cut back the passenger number. Almost half of the air-scheduled travelers in the following year could change their plan due to uncertainty in routes.
Some economists say that the worst thing that could happen to the British airline industry is that air passengers would drop by eight million in 2019. Others estimate that the reduced passenger number could be 2.3 million with a 11.5 percent decline.
UK-Brexit/Airline Industry
Dateline : Aug 22, 2017
Location : London,United Kingdom
Duration : 1'38
London, UK - Aug 22, 2017
1. Various of passengers checking in
2. Check-in sign
3. Passengers taking escalator
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Bond, director, Centre for European Reform:
"Certainly the airline industry is one of the most concerned. Because without the EU open sky's agreement, then British airlines will not be able to fly between European airports. And they may not even be able to fly to European airports."
5. Various of airport staff
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Bond, director, Centre for European Reform:
"But there're clearly some questions. And the head of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has been very clear that a lot of flights simply wouldn't take place if there wasn't clarity on this question of UK access to the EU aviation market."
7. Various of passengers
8. Departures sign
9. London City Airport sign
10. Passenger
United Kingdom(UK)'s departure from the European Union (EU) could cause a 40-percent loss of passengers to the country's airline industry if the government fails to reach a new aviation deal with the EU before October 2018, according to a recent report commissioned by leading British airports.
The Westminster Policy Institute has submitted the report to the British government and urged it to start negotiating over a post-Brexit aviation deal with the EU as soon as possible. The consultancy is acting on behalf of management of major airports in the country, including Manchester Airport, Stansted Airport, Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and London City Airport.
The report warned that if current uncertainties continue, the airports could see the number of their air passengers, most of whom book months in advance, plunge by about 41 percent.
Spokespersons for Manchester Airport and Stansted Airport said a lack of renewed agreement after Brexit would be disadvantageous for UK's airline industry, which is unlike other sectors that can still operate under World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements after Brexit.
"Certainly the airline industry is one of the most concerned. Because without the EU open sky's agreement, then British airlines will not be able to fly between European airports. And they may not even be able to fly to European airports," said Ian Bond, director of Center for European Reform, a think-tank.
The largest low-cost European airline Ryanair of Ireland, flying a lot between Britain and the EU, is concerned about the route after the UK’s exit.
"But there're clearly some questions. And the head of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has been very clear that a lot of flights simply wouldn't take place if there wasn't clarity on this question of UK access to the EU aviation market," said Bond.
The report says that without an early guarantee, EU citizens' withdrawal from Britain after March 2019, when Brexit is expected to take place, alone could seriously cut back the passenger number. Almost half of the air-scheduled travelers in the following year could change their plan due to uncertainty in routes.
Some economists say that the worst thing that could happen to the British airline industry is that air passengers would drop by eight million in 2019. Others estimate that the reduced passenger number could be 2.3 million with a 11.5 percent decline.
ID : 8059201
Published : 2017-08-24 08:07
Last Modified : 2017-08-24 19:56:00
Source : China Central Television (CCTV)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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