A Brexit ‘no deal’ would spell disaster for UK aviation, pilots’ union Balpa warned today.
The British Airline Pilots Association intervened after prime minister Theresa May suggested that this was now an option.
Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: “The entire UK aviation sector which employs nearly a million people and carries more than 250 million passengers per annum would be devastated by a Brexit ‘no deal’.
“Unlike most other sectors there are no World Trade Organisation or any other rules to fall back on for aviation if there is no deal.
“UK airlines could find they have to stop flying – it’s that serious. And this would impact passengers long before March 2019 because airlines couldn’t sell advance tickets and, frankly, would passengers risk buying them?”
He added: “It is utter madness for anyone to think that a Brexit ‘no deal’ would be anything but a total disaster for our world leading UK aviation sector and beyond.
“After all, without air cargo we will not be able to export or import freely. The entire industry has said that we have to see evidence of the post-Brexit plan for aviation now if we are to avert a catastrophic crisis of confidence.”