A Reset: The UK – EU Aviation Relationship Post Brexit

Akhil Shah QC and Alexandra Whelan

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (the ‘Agreement’), which will now govern the UK’s relationship with the EU, heralds significant changes for aviation.

The UK is no longer part of the EU single aviation market (the EU Common Aviation Area) and its aviation law will no longer derive, in large part, from EU law. However, at least in the near future, many aspects of the UK and EU aviation relationship will be preserved.

The key features of the Agreement include the preservation of connectivity between the UK and the EU, albeit on more restrictive terms than previously, and the specification of  important detail on airworthiness. The Agreement makes provision for future agreement concerning recognition of UK and EU certificates and approvals and for the establishment of a Specialised Committee to address aviation issues.

In this piece, we set out the implications of the Agreement for aviation (addressed at Part 2, Heading 2 of the Agreement).