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Monday, 4 July 2016 - 18:15
Easyjet headquarters could leave UK for Netherlands in Brexit
British budget airline Easyjet would want to leave the United Kingdom, possibly choosing the Netherlands as the company's new home base. The firm has asked for an aviation license outside of the country to maintain wider access to European airspace, reports Sky News.
EasyJet chairman Carolyn McCall declared in private conversation that a move of the main office is inevitable after the Brexit, writes Sky News. The company would prefer a small move of just a fraction of the employees. The company doesn’t have to leave if new treaties are agreed upon, in which case the airline can keep on flying in Europe from the UK.
However, EasyJet has found it impossible to fly in European airspace after the Brexit under current regulations. The airline already called out to the British government and European political capital Brussels to commence negotiations soon.
If the airline would decide to move, then the Netherlands, Ireland or France are good choices, says an aviation expert. The airline denied the claim that it was planning a move.
“Part of our planning for the referendum included having informal conversations with a number of European supervisors of aviation about setting up an AOC (air operator certificate) in a European country, to allow EasyJet to keep flying in European airspace," writes EasyJet in an official statement.
“We do not have plans to move away from Luton, our home for the past 20 years”, adds the company. “Until the results of the referendum are clear, we see no need for further structural or operational changes”, declares the company