Ryanair applies for UK licence amid fears of hard Brexit

BUDGET airline Ryanair has applied for a British air operating licence in an attempt to continue its domestic UK routes after Brexit.

Ryanair has warned in the past that unless new rules are agreed between Britain and the EU, then flights on UK routes could be grounded after March 2019.

If awarded, a British licence would ensure that the Irish airline could continue operating routes between London, Northern Irish and Scottish airports beyond Brexit.

The budget airline said in a statement: “A subsidiary company, Ryanair UK, filed an application on 21 December for an air operator’s certificate 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’s internal UK routes are believed to account for an estimated 2 per cent of its business.