United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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Brexit yes, Brexit no, hard or soft - no one knows yet if, when and under what circumstances Britain could leave the EU. This uncertainty is currently affecting people on both sides of the English Channel - including vacationers.
They ask themselves what an exit from the EU could mean for the travel plans. Will there be new regulations for entry and customs? What about the flights? Is it safer to give up this year completely on a UK holiday?
Here are answers to the most important questions:
What does the possible Brexit for air traffic mean?
Should Britain leave the EU, there are still many scenarios - the Brexit with and the Brexit without agreement ("Deal") and the deadline April 12, May 22 or later. In all cases at least the holiday season 2019 is secured. Air traffic in Europe should remain largely intact for the time being. This was agreed by EU negotiators in February and appropriate temporary emergency measures decided.
- Safety certificates for aeronautical equipment issued to companies in the United Kingdom should continue to apply for nine months after unregulated Brexit.
- British licensed airlines are expected to maintain connections between the UK and the remaining 27 EU countries - at least for up to seven months after leaving the EU.
- In fact, only airlines that are majority owned by owners from the European Economic Area are allowed to fly in the EU. However, the contingency plan gives the companies a transitional period of six months to fulfill the conditions.
"Fly on as usual - no matter what," said Easyjet boss Johan Lundgren recently. The transitional regime for air traffic between the British Isles and the EU makes this possible - at least for now.
The aviation expert Heinrich Großbongardt believes that the effects of a Brexit without a deal with the EU will be limited. "Passengers are expected to suffer from flight cancellations, especially around the Brexit appointment itself, but to what extent is not predictable right now," he said.
If the Brexit appointment is in April or May, Großbongardt says regarding the summer and autumn holidays: "I would not worry too much now." Anyone wanting to fly to London during the autumn holidays could do so quietly. "You can relatively safely book a flight."
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Great Britain: What Brexit means for vacationersWhat is the ticket demand with the airlines?
Tourists can theoretically book and fly. But will they do that? In any case, Easyjet expects a drop in demand. The continuing uncertainty is already bothering British low-cost airlines.
The uncertain outlook for the economy and the unresolved issues surrounding Britain's exit from the EU weighed on ticket prices in the UK and across Europe, Lufthansa's rival said. Only in the summer quarter could it go up again - if then there is more clarity to Brexit.
Britain's tourism was not a good year in 2018: between January and October, there were 32 million foreign visitors - four percent fewer than in the same period last year.
Which documents do you need after Brexit for entry?
Who will need a visa to enter the UK after Brexit? Which entry requirements will apply to Brexit? The British government has put a question and answer list online - in each case on the possible scenarios of Brexit with and Brexit without a deal.
The most important findings:
- Should Britain leave the EU with an agreement, nothing will change the entry requirements until 1 January 2021.
- Even if Britain leaves the EU without an agreement, entry will be visa- free for all EU citizens. However, it is possible that Parliament will still decide otherwise, according to the website of the British government. Then there could be a situation where EU citizens can only enter for three months without a visa.
- As long as this is not the case, EU citizens will only need their valid identity card or passport when entering Germany. "What you have to show at the border will not change," they say, "even if the UK leaves the EU without agreement."
Will telephoning with the mobile phone become more expensive when traveling?
In a Brexit with exit agreements, the mobile phone costs will not change if the SIM card was issued by a provider from the EU. "They will pay the same for calls, messages and mobile data within the UK and EU," the UK government website said. In the case of a no-deal brexit, it depends on the provider.
Will the customs regulations change?
The yield after a shopping weekend in London can be bigger - also because at the moment the pound is cheaper than before the Brexit referendum three years ago. After leaving the EU ... however, the same exemption limits apply to entry home as to all non-EU countries: for example, only goods up to a total value of 430 euros, 200 cigarettes or one liter of whiskey are exempt from duty. So far, 800 cigarettes and ten liters of spirits were allowed.
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