The penny seems to be dropping at last. From the
Daily Mail, 6 September 2018:
Britain draws up 27 different pacts to protect flights if there's no Brexit deal as new government papers will accept possibility UK planes WON'T be able to take off and land on the continent
Britain is trying to negotiate aviation deals with individual EU countries to ensure planes continue to fly in the event of a ‘no deal’
Brexit.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will write to his opposite numbers in the 27 member states, seeking to secure agreements.
The move, which attempts to circumvent the European Commission, will anger Brussels officials.
The
European Union is responsible for aviation laws across the continent, but has resisted efforts by the UK to draw up contingency plans if there is no agreement.
Mr Grayling will urge European transport ministers to be practical and prepare for the talks collapsing. It comes ahead of the publication next week of another tranche of ‘no deal’ papers, including those covering aviation.
The papers will accept there is a theoretical possibility UK planes will not be able to take off and land on the continent after March 29 next year.
Flights from Europe would also be blocked from landing in the UK unless a new agreement is made to replace the single market for aviation.
Stand by for the second tranche of "no deal papers" next week, when, hopefully, aviation will feature.
Unfortunately, individual EU nations do not have the "competence" to negotiate their own air service agreements so it does look like things could possibly "
not be ok on the night".