Brexit won't ground flights between UK and EU, airlines chief tells MPs

Brexit is unlikely to ground flights between the UK and EU, the chief executive of IAG, which owns British Airways, has said.

Willie Walsh said that such a move would bring the entire continent to a standstill.

Mr Walsh told the Commons Transport Committee: "The prospect of there being no flying between the UK and and Europe, I don't agree with at all. I think this would bring the whole of Europe to a standstill."

The comments came after Chancellor Philip Hammond had said it is "theoretically conceivable" that all flights between the EU and the UK could be suspended on the day Britain leaves the EU.

He added: "I don't think anybody seriously believes that that is where we will get to".

The IAG chief told MPs the airline industry would be able to cope with Brexit as it was used to dealing with new regulations and adapting quickly to changing situations.

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