One Air issues plea to UK government

One Air issues plea to UK government

One Air, the new British all-cargo airline, has called on the UK government to address a longstanding issue from the Brexit process that is hampering the sole 747 operator in the UK.

When the UK formally left the European Union (EU) at 23:00 on 31st December 2020, it left the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), ending the reciprocity around training for pilots, engineers and maintenance staff.

This has led to “costly” difficulties for One Air, such as sending aircraft to the United States for heavy maintenance at an additional cost of half a million dollars, as well as leading to the ground of aircraft for two extra weeks, halting operations.

“We don’t believe anyone intended to harm British businesses with this oversight during Brexit,” Paul Simmons, One Air’s director, stated. “The lack of reciprocity for pilot and engineering licenses between the UK and the EU wasn’t intentional; it simply wasn’t addressed. The UK government didn’t conduct an impact assessment on this change, assuming there would be no significant impact.”

“We’re not asking to rejoin the EU or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). We are simply suggesting a bilateral agreement between the UK and the EU to reciprocate licenses, similar to agreements the UK has made with other countries post-Brexit.

“Political sensitivity has likely prevented this issue from being addressed, as fixing it might be seen as reversing Brexit.

“However, we have some good news. The Labour Party manifesto includes a commitment to address license reciprocity across various professions. We’re asking that aviation be included in these discussions.”

READ: MITIGATING LEGAL RISKS OF GREENWASHING

Operational issues

One Air has two 747 freighters in its fleet, with a third joining by the end of August. The carrier plans to double this fleet by the end of 2025, as part of their long-term vision for the company and nose loader operations in the UK.

As the only 747 operator in the UK, the issue of pilot and engineering license reciprocity has been particularly challenging for One Air and others in the industry.

“We are particularly impacted and urgently need this resolution to support our growth and operations,” Simmons explained. “But it affects all airlines, not just us. It is a priority for industry groups like Airlines UK and is on their list of issues to tackle.”

With Labour planning to address qualification reciprocity in other fields, One Air is hopeful that the new government will “smooth out some of the rough edges of Brexit” to ensure One Air and others can operate “efficiently and logically.”

“We have the largest cargo capacity in the country. This makes us a critical resource for the government or non-governmental organisations needing to transport large quantities of goods quickly,” Simmons highlighted.

“We are licensed by the Ministry of Defence to assist in such efforts, and we have previously moved aid for the government, such as a mission to Cyprus. Despite this strategic importance, our growth and development are being hindered by regulatory issues that are unnecessary and burdensome.”

READ: AIRBUS SECURES LARGEST ORDER OF FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

Calming tensions

During the Brexit negotiations, there was a lot of political friction on both sides. The lengthy and vigorous process of enacting Brexit culminated in a Brexit withdrawal agreement which failed to address the concerns of key sectors including aviation. Also, throughout the discussions, the then-Conservative government would try to avoid too much focus on any specific European topic due to the political backlash that could be sparked by the rift within their own party.

After the change in government only a few weeks ago, while the situation is still in the early stages, One Air is clear that there is a visible renewed effort from both Labour and the EU to improve relations and conduct business together, establishing better cooperation.

“With changes in political leadership and a shift in attitude, I believe now is the right time to address and resolve these issues. Even a year ago, this discussion might not have been possible, but the current climate is more conducive to finding solutions,” Simmons stated.

“We are engaging with Labour. We aim to raise awareness and build a consensus around this topic. We welcome other airlines to join us in advocating for this change.

“While we are particularly impacted because of our aircraft type, everyone in the industry I’ve spoken with wants to see this issue resolved. Both the UK and Europe stand to benefit from resolving these regulatory issues.”

Picture of Edward Hardy

Edward Hardy

Having become a journalist after university, Edward Hardy has been a reporter and editor at some of the world's leading publications and news sites. In 2022, he became Air Cargo Week's Editor. Got news to share? Contact me on Edward.Hardy@AirCargoWeek.com

Newsletter

Stay informed. Stay ahead. To get the latest air cargo news and industry trends delivered directly to your inbox, sign up now!

related articles

Raya Airways launches new route from Penang to Hong Kong

Skyborne soars with DHL Air UK partnership

What’s behind Asia’s growth?

Wait...Before you go

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Logo Air Cargo Week