Ryanair seeks licence to 'keep UK service running' if hard Brexit occurs

Flying rights are currently governed by EU-wide deals, and because it is not part of the World Trade Organization, the aviation sector does not have arrangements in place to protect flights if there is no deal between Britain and the EU, Reuters reports.

Rival airline Wizz Air has already applied for a separate licence in Britain via a UK subsidiary.

Ryanair told Reuters in a statement: “A subsidiary company Ryanair UK filed an application on Dec 21 last for an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) with the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK. This may be required for Ryanair’s three UK domestic routes in the event of a hard Brexit in March 2019.”

Ryanair said last year that it planned to pivot its growth away from Britain over the next two years, fearing a lack of clarity over Brexit.