So if I’ve got this right, the UK CAA have now made it a straightforward application process for non-UK EASA licence holders to obtain a U.K. licence and fly U.K. registered aircraft.
Even those that have NOT previously held a U.K. licence. Fill out a form, cough up the fee and you’re good to go...
If that EASA license holder does not have pre Brexit employment rights, his UK license will be useless as any employment without a work visa (which needs to be justified by the employer) would be illegal. This may seem one sided but was clearly done so that the many hundreds of Brits with foreign licenses could continue to gain employment with UK employers. Imagine, what the outcome would be if those people who lost their jobs due to Covid had to retrain and relicence just to be employed at home. This would be even less palatable.
The topic cannot be looked at in isolation. Work rights, who was here and employed before Brexit vs who was not makes all the difference. Airlines have to adjust their AOCs and new ones must have a justified reason for wet leasing non UK reg aircraft. Even Ryanair have been challenged over having a UK AOC but leasing EI reg planes to run it and major changes are expected if they want to co tonue to do business out of the UK.
The net advantage, say a Pole or Spaniard has over a Brit to be employed for the first time in the UK post Brexit is zero.