Can a scheduled passenger carrying IFR flight who has filed a flight plan and been in the airways system cancel their flight plan having left controlled airspace and elect to continue VFR
As far as the flight plan rules go the answer is yes. Why cancel the plan, simply change the plan to VFR!!
However, that operator's operations manual will have a clearly laid down policy regarding operations outside controlled airspace and operations under anything other than IFR.
If the flight has left the airways system in the UK there is nothing to be gained from cancelling a flight plan or even cancelling IFR...........simply make one's way to destination.
Outside the UK, there can be some advantages depending on the class of airspaces within which the flight will operate after leaving the airway structure........for example some military restricted areas can be crossed VFR but not IFR thus, the rules do show an advantage if one can shortcut through such airspace under VFR. But, few operators have the ability to do such because of limitations in their operations manuals.
When talking about shortcuts, one must considder the speed restrictions in lower classes of airspace compared to being able to keep the speed up on the airway.
Not a simple decision really!
Regards,
DFC