Major disruption to flights between Britain and the European Union from March 2019 is looking increasingly likely as Brexit talks proceed, the Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary warned on Wednesday.
Airlines say they would need a new deal to replace the current "Open Skies" arrangement by September or October next year to be able to provide scheduled flights in the months after Britain leaves the EU.
But Mr O'Leary said initial signs from Brexit talks were not promising and that likely EU demands for any new deal - including oversight by the European Court of Justice - would probably be unpalatable to London.
"It's odds against a deal being done in advance of Christmas 2018, because it is in the Europeans' interest to not have a deal done... and all hell will be kicking off over here in the UK," Mr O'Leary said in London.
He was speaking after talks with British transport secretary Chris Grayling, which he described as "a very good meeting". Mr O'Leary said Mr Grayling was increasingly conscious of the need to conclude an aviation deal before the end of 2018.
However, he said did not share Mr Grayling's optimism that a deal would be straightforward.
"We believe the French and the German airlines in particular are actively negotiating against any favourable deal," Mr O'Leary said.
He has been warning since January that a failure by London and Brussels to agree a new bilateral aviation deal by late 2018 could lead to a total freeze on flights between Britain and the European Union.
He said that without a deal on aviation, Ryanair would move dozens of planes currently in Britain to bases in other EU countries to continue flying.
Britain formally began negotiations to leave the European Union in June, but little progress has been made towards an agreement on issues such as citizens' rights, which are first on the agenda before sectoral issues like aviation are discussed.
Mr O'Leary, an outspoken critic of the British decision to leave the European Union, has warned of the uncertainties caused by the vote ever since the referendum in June 2016, and said that a deal looked no more likely now than it did then.
"We're 12 months down the road, and we're no closer to an agreement," he said.
* Reuters
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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