Brexit Forces UK Cargo Airline to US for Servicing

Chris Hope, the chief executive of One Air, has expressed significant concerns regarding the lack of a Brexit impact assessment for the aviation sector by the previous government. He fears that the Labour government may similarly overlook this critical issue as it engages in discussions with the EU to reset cross-Channel trading relations. A major challenge highlighted is the absence of mutual recognition for professional qualifications between the UK and the EU, which has adversely affected various professions, including architects and accountants. The aviation industry is facing additional hurdles as passenger airlines increasingly transition to Airbus aircraft post-pandemic. Under the Brexit arrangements, EU-based aircraft engineering firms had the opportunity to gain recognition in the UK before the end of 2022, but there were no applications for 747s. Consequently, One Air is compelled to compete for limited repair slots in a single UK-recognized workshop in Germany or seek services in the US, incurring substantial costs. Hope noted that two services had to be sent to the US this year, leading to an additional $1 million in expenses. Hope also pointed out the complexities involved in EU organizations obtaining UK approval, which requires them to navigate duplicate regulations, making it economically unfeasible for smaller fleets. The UK’s existing bilateral agreement with the US is seen as a potential model for future relations with the EU. However, routine repairs remain problematic, as components from EU workshops cannot be used on UK aircraft without proper UK approval. The issue extends to pilots, whose qualifications have been "seriously degraded" post-Brexit, as they are no longer recognized by the EU. Amy Leversidge, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association, urged the new government to prioritize mutual recognition of flight crew and engineer licenses, which would alleviate barriers for UK license holders seeking employment. The Cabinet Office has been approached for comments on these pressing concerns.