Ryanair Boss Says Post-Brexit Britain Risks Isolation

Michael O’Leary has been heavily critical of the British government’s negotiations to leave the European Union and says that the country’s airports could be left cut-off post-Brexit.

Brexit could leave Britain bereft of European flights, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned. According to the Daily Mail, he has been scathing in his assessment of Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of negotiations to leave the European Union (EU).

Speaking candidly of the situation, he said, “’Brexit – no exit plan by the UK government. I don’t think they have a clue what they are engaged in.”

O’Leary fears that the British government will fail to reach an agreement on the ‘open skies’ arrangement, an accord which enables flights to travel from any point within the bloc to any point in the United States.

This arrangement, O’Leary explained, is dependent upon Britain’s recognition of the European Court of Justice, the body tasked with interpreting and applying EU law across the bloc. When Britain leaves the EU, it will no longer be subject to the jurisdiction of this court.

He believes that, without a Brexit deal, there is a chance that flight traffic between the EU and Britain could effectively grind to a halt in 2019.

“There is a possibility, unlikely, but nevertheless a possibility that there may be no flights between the UK and Europe in March 2019 if the UK walks off this cliff that they seem determined to walk off,” he said.

O’Leary also stated that he believes that it will take longer than the allotted two-year time frame for the country to officially exit the EU. He added that Ryanair is directing its plans for future growth away from the country due to the uncertainty caused by Brexit.

Speaking of the results of the referendum in the wider sense, he also expressed hope that the country would stay within the bloc. However, O’Leary stated that, “We have to recognize the will of the people, they did vote in a referendum, however they were fundamentally misled into believing they could leave Europe and nothing would change.”

“Everything is going to change, and probably for the worse,” he added.

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