The burden of post-Brexit bureaucracy is costing a young British cargo airline £400,000 every time an aircraft needs repairs.
One Air, operator of Boeing 747 aircraft, was forced to send its fleet to America for routine maintenance and repairs because there is no mutual recognition of the required professional qualifications between the EU and the UK.
The company’s CEO, Chris Hope, said The Guardian: “In the seven months so far this calendar year, we have had two (services) that have had to be relocated to the United States.
“The incremental cost difference is almost $500,000 for each of them.”
The company criticises the regulations introduced after Brexit, which require British pilots to re-take a formal test in the EU to obtain the same qualification. This comes at a significant cost, while the engineers’ hard-earned licences become virtually worthless outside the UK.
One Air’s problem is compounded by the fact that it is the only company in the UK to operate Boeing 747s.
The maintenance and repair infrastructure for the aircraft is rapidly disappearing as passenger airlines have switched to Airbus since the pandemic.
Under the Brexit agreement, EU-based aircraft manufacturers in the bloc were able to apply for recognition in the UK until the end of 2022. However, there were no interested parties for the 747.
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