Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal on inter-continental travel.

As set out in the Political Declaration, the UK and the EU have agreed their intention to put in place a comprehensive air transport agreement (CATA). This will provide market access for UK and EU airlines, and close cooperation on aviation safety, security and air traffic management. Where market access beyond Europe is currently determined by EU-negotiated arrangements, the Withdrawal Agreement sets out that the EU will notify treaty partners and third countries that the UK is to be treated as an EU Member State for the purposes of its international agreements during the implementation period, including air service agreements.

In the event of a no deal both the UK and the EU have plans in place to ensure that travel will continue in the short term. For travel with non-EU third countries, as set out on gov.uk, the UK has already secured a number of arrangements, including with the US and Canada, to ensure continuity of travel to third countries where air services agreements are currently provided for by virtue of the UK’s membership of the EU.