101 UK Brexit Notes

Connemara Programme October 16 2018 pg. 16 Transport: Aviation: Security Purpose The purpose of this notice is to inform air passengers, the aviation industry and the public of the actions we are taking to prepare for the unlikely scenario that the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no deal. Preparing for EU exit is not just a matter for the government. Individuals and businesses may need to consider a range of actions. Before 29 March 2019 The UK’s aviation security standards and procedures are currently based on EU regulations. These set down common minimum standards to keep passengers safe on flights departing from EU Member States. This means that for passengers flying from the UK, neither the passenger nor their luggage normally needs to be rescreened if they transfer between flights at other EU airports. It also means that air cargo can fly from UK airports to the EU without security restrictions, and that air cargo can likewise fly freely from EU airports to the UK. In addition to the minimum standards in the regulations, EU Member States can also apply their own more stringent security measures. The UK is a global leader in aviation security, with one of the best aviation security systems in the world. We already apply a range of additional aviation security measures which go above and beyond EU baseline standards. Those additional measures will continue to apply, and the government keeps aviation security regulations under constant review to ensure that they are fit for purpose in the context of the current threat environment. Keeping air passengers safe is our top priority, and we will continue to work collaboratively at an international level to ensure this. After March 2019 if there’s no deal If the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no agreement in place on aviation security, the existing regulations and procedures will still be retained in domestic law under the EU Withdrawal Act. This would ensure that the UK will continue to have a robust aviation security system. Given this, and the higher standards of aviation already in place in the UK, there is no reason for the UK’s aviation security regime not to be recognised by the EU as equivalent, which would mean no additional security restrictions would need to be imposed by either the EU or the UK. However, if the EU does not recognise the UK’s standards, there would be a number of possible implications for passengers and cargo. Passengers The vast majority of passengers will not experience any difference in aviation security screening as a result of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. The security screening requirements for all direct passenger flights to and from the UK will remain as they are today. The exception to this is where passengers transfer flights at an EU airport, where there is a possibility they may notice a change.  Direct flights: For passengers departing from a UK airport to anywhere in the world, the same aviation security measures will be applied to the passenger and their luggage. For passengers starting a journey at an EU airport to fly to the UK, they would also see no difference in the aviation security measures.  Passengers from the UK transferring through UK airports: Passengers flying from a UK airport and transferring to another flight at a UK airport would see no difference in the aviation security measures.  Passengers from the EU transferring through UK airports: On the basis of our own risk assessment, the UK already applies more stringent security measures than the EU. This entails rescreening all passengers and their luggage when transferring between aircraft at UK airports, and UK airports are therefore already set up to facilitate this. This rescreening of transfer passengers will continue, which means that there will be no change to the treatment of EU transfer passengers in the UK following Brexit.  Passengers from the UK transferring through EU airports: Currently passengers flying from the UK and transferring at an EU airport for an onward flight do not have to be rescreened at that EU airport, because the UK applies, and exceeds, the EU baseline aviation security measures. If there is no deal, and the EU decides not to recognise the UK aviation security system, then passengers and their luggage will have to be rescreened when changing flights in EU hub airports. In the preparedness notices issued by the European Commission they have indicated that they will not recognise the UK aviation security system. This could have significant operational and cost implications for those EU airports, and passengers may have to factor increased time for rescreening into their travel schedule. Cargo: The EU has an inbound cargo regime called ACC3 (Air Cargo or Mail Carrier operating into the Union from a Third Country Airport), which requires carriers to hold a designation granted by an EU Member State (an “ACC3 designation”), in order to fly cargo into the EU. Currently the UK is responsible for granting ACC3 designations to 37 carriers from around the world on behalf of the EU, including many third country national airlines.