The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has been denying flight-permit applications by U.S. charter firms to operate flights between the UK and other countries, due to a UK policy that allows the DfT to consult with the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA), whose members can object to the flight.
The DfT’s policy for extra-bilateral procedures includes seventh-freedom flights, in which a non-EU carrier operates flights between the UK and another country. This does not include travel between the U.S. and the UK, which is covered by the Open Skies agreement. The DfT policy states that any UK carrier can object to a seventh-freedom, flight-permit application if that carrier can operate the flight with a comparable aircraft. The policy also states that the DfT may “consult” with the BBGA to determine if any of its members has suitable alternative capacity and is available from the same airport within two hours of the time requested.
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