US pilots’ union, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), has commented that because the vote in the UK to break away from the European Union casts uncertainty on how international air rules will now apply to UK airlines, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) should halt Norwegian Air UK’s application to gain access to more airports in the US and EU. This is despite the fact that the open skies agreement allows airlines in the EU to fly to any location in the US, and vice versa.
“Significant uncertainty surrounds the timing of the UK’s exit from the EU and its effect on air transportation, including how UK airlines that no longer fall under the U.S.-EU air transport agreement will need to seek approval to serve the United States,” said Tim Canoll, ALPA’s president. “With so much in flux following the Brexit vote, the DOT must suspend processing of NAUK’s application until we can determine the rules that would apply to its application.”
ALPA and other union groups submitted a new filing with the DOT this week, urging the agency to suspend its processing of Norwegian Air UK’s application “until the post‐exit regulatory structure that will pertain to the grant of operating authorizations to UK air carriers is determined.”