Regulations and Government
Finding Freedoms Post-Brexit
Britain’s exit from the European Union brought a level playing field to an abrupt end for UK business aviation
(Photo: SaxonAir)
(Photo: SaxonAir)

Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) brought to an abrupt end for the UK business aviation sector years of operating on a level playing field with its EU-based counterparts. When the 11-month transition period concluded on December 31, unfettered access to the markets of some 27 member states was halted for the UK’s unscheduled operators, and a whole new relationship with the bloc began under stricter and often burdensome terms.

“It came a complete shock to us on January 1,” said Alex Durand, chief executive of UK charter company SaxonAir. “We had already had a poor year in terms of movements and revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so the end of the transition period was like falling off a metaphorical cliff. It’s been a slow-moving car crash.”

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