U.K. Flights Could Never Be Grounded by Brexit, Grayling Says
- Transport minister: ceasing to fly in 2019 is ‘inconceivable’
- Any transitional border deal would need to safeguard airlines
Passenger aircraft operated by Ryanair Holdings Plc sit on the tarmac at London Stansted Airport Ltd, operated by Manchester Airports Group Plc (MAG), in Stansted, U.K., on Oct. 27, 2015.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/BloombergU.K. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said there’s no chance that planes will be grounded when Britain leaves the European Union in 2019 and that any transitional arrangements on border controls are likely to be contingent on maintaining maximum access for airlines.
The notion that jets could be forced to stop flying once Brexit is implemented shouldn’t be taken seriously, Grayling said in an interview. Airlines including Ryanair Holdings Plc have said it’s possible flights could be curtailed for weeks or months if negotiators fail to make early progress on the issue.