Spain’s Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Jorge Toledo, said he was determined to secure an aviation deal with the UK in case of widespread disruption to air travel after the UK leaves the bloc.
He said in the event a UK-EU aviation deal does not come through, Spain would have its own to ensure UK holidaymakers are still able to visit Spain after Brexit in March 2019.
The Minister told New York media company Bloomberg: “If there isn’t an agreement, then we will have a plan B ready. It would be necessary to work on a European solution but also on a national-based solution.”
He said Spain has around four months to put in place a back-up plan because airlines tend to make their flight plans one year in advance.
Spain attracted 18 million holidaymakers last year and is determined to protect its tourism industry and commercial links. Spain’s Canary islands are lobbying the Spanish government and the EU for a good Brexit deal for the UK, warning their economy could go under if Britain is penalised and they stop visiting the south Atlantic holiday islands off the north west coast of Africa.
