The umbrella group for European airports has asserted that a "no-deal" Brexit could cost airports across Europe hundreds of millions of euro, compromise security and lead to a "highly degraded" service.
According to The Irish Times, a leaked letter from Airports Council International (ACI) director general Oliver Jankovec to Pascal Leardini, who is leading a special unit in the European Commission readying for a no-deal scenario, urges the commission to "urgently" develop contingencies for Britain exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement next March.
Adequate Contingencies
Jankovec said, "Given that a no-deal scenario remains a serious possibility, I would like to reiterate our call for the EU 27 and the UK to develop and agree on adequate contingencies for aviation.
"In particular, I would like to focus on the issue of security checks at EU 27 airports and the need for the EU 27 to ensure that as of March 30th, 2019, the UK can be included in the list of countries with whom the EU 27/EEA and Switzerland ensures a ‘one stop security’ regime."
Jankovec said that forcing passengers leaving the UK for transfers at EU airports to undergo security checks at those airports would result in "negative consequences", such as the need to purchase extra security equipment and build new checkpoints. This in turn, Jankovec states, would lead to "significant costs" for airlines, airports and "ultimately passengers".
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
