16 February 2021

UK cargo, charter and leasing airlines say they are losing contracts and business to EU rivals after the Brexit deal failed to ensure a promised level playing field, reports The Guardian. At least five of the carriers – Titan Airways, Jota Aviation, Loganair, CargoLogicAir and Air Tanker – are set to join forces with the planned launch of a campaign to save UK aviation jobs, which will demand reciprocal rights for UK airlines. The carriers say they are severely disadvantaged under the new post-Brexit regime because the rules and practices the UK has unilaterally adopted allow greater freedom and flexibility for EU-owned airlines to fly in the UK than UK carriers have in Europe. Permits are now required for foreign carriers to fly ad hoc flights between the UK and mainland Europe, which EU airlines have been able to obtain faster than UK rivals and therefore are winning more business. The government is understood to be working with the industry and EU states to press for permits for ad-hoc services to be issued faster.