On initial reading, it looks like there has been a massive fudge on ownership rules to enable the likes of BA etc to continue despite not being majority UK owned. New start-ups may need to be careful with ownership rules but there is a grandfather rights clause built in for the current players. So little change other than for the likes of Easyjet who have had to re-structure to work beyond the 3rd and 4th freedoms but for other operators there is little change so long as they have a UK AOC and UK based subsidiary. (Not sure what game Ryanair are playing).
As for UK pilots, it seems that they have been well and truly shafted. UK airlines are on their knees and HMG have made it virtually as easy as it was before for foreign operators to continue to push into UK territory. they can continue to bring their own staff with them or recruit from outside the UK, either through the new softly softly immigration system, intra company transfers or in the case of Irish Nationals via the Free Travel arrangements. As many have pointed out, HMG has managed to negotiate its way into a situation where Irish passport holders have more freedoms rights in the UK than British passport holders.
And to add insult to injury, we have had our Freedom of movement taken away so even when (if) things start to improve, British pilots have less chance of picking up contract or ACMI work. More dole time or retrain in cyber seems to be the only option for the Brits. Thanks a lot HMG.
