EasyJet announced on Friday that it has applied for an air operator certificate (AOC) in an unspecified European Union (EU) country, a step aimed at enabling the airline to continue enjoying free access to European skies despite the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the EU.
"As part of EasyJet’s contingency planning before the referendum, we had informal discussions with a certain number of European aviation regulators about the establishment of an AOC in an European country to enable EasyJet to fly across Europe as we do today, » the no-frills British carrier said in a communique. "EasyJet has now started a formal process to acquire an AOC. »
The AOC is an authorization granted by the civil aviation authorities of each country. The single European air-transport market enables any company operating in an EU member country to fly freely throughout the EU.
After benefiting greatly from the single European sky established about 20 years ago, British carriers are now worried about their future following Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
However, EasyJet said it had no plans at the moment to move its headquarters from London’s Luton Airport.
(Source: Belga)
EasyJet applies for air operator certificate in another EU country
