4 BREXIT SPECIAL


DON’T PANIC! T


No initial change in the way people holiday and travel - ABTA


HERE will be no initial change in the way people travel. That's was the reassurance from the Prime Minister David Cameron and ABTA following the surprise Brexit verdict in the recent EU Referendum.


ABTA moved swiftly to reassure the Travel Trade and the UK Travelling Public saying in a statement: "Travellers are as free to move between the UK and the EU as they were before the referendum, European Health Insurance cards remain valid and regulations such as Air Passenger Rights remain in place. “The result of the referendum on the UK’s future relationship with the European Union has been announced, and the British people have voted to leave the EU.


“The Prime Minister has stated that there will be no initial change in the way people travel. Travellers are as free to move between the UK and the EU as they were before the vote, European Health Insurance cards remain valid and regulations such as Air Passenger Rights remain in place.


“People due to travel this summer will see little changes to their holiday. Once the UK formally notifies the EU of its intention to leave, the remaining Member States will have up to two years to offer the UK a deal for a future trading relationship and during this period holidaymakers will not see any immediate changes. “However, the fall in value of the pound will have an immediate impact on holidaymakers and their spending power overseas.”


Your Holiday Questions Answered Q&As


How will Brexit affect my holiday?


Until the UK officially leaves the EU, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no changes to holiday arrangements. Travellers are as free to move between the UK and the EU as they were before the vote, European Health Insurance cards remain valid and regulations such as Passenger Rights remain in place.


QI’m going to Europe this summer, is my passport still valid? A Yes. Until the UK officially leaves the EU, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no changes to passports.


Q I’ve booked a holiday for next year – do I need to do anything? A No. Until the UK officially leaves the EU, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no changes to holiday arrangements.


Q Do I need to get a new passport? A No. Until the UK officially leaves the EU, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no change to passport arrangements.


Q Which queue will I go into at the airport – EU passports or all others? A The same queue as you did before the vote. Until the UK officially leaves the EU, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no change to passport arrangements.


Q Do I need a visa to go to Spain? A No. Until the UK officially leaves the EU, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no change to


passport arrangements.


Q What about my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)? A You can still use your EHIC card abroad. There will be no immediate changes to using your EHIC card abroad. Arrangements between the UK and other EU countries will have to be reached once the UK officially leaves the EU. Q Can I still get compensation if my flight is delayed or cancelled? A Yes. There will be no immediate changes to claiming compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled. The UK Government will need to implement a new law on compensation for flight delays and compensation after we leave the EU. QWhat about duty free? Can I still bring goods home? A You can still bring home unlimited goods until we officially leave the EU. The free movement of goods will be part of a negotiated settlement with the EU.


Q What about using my mobile phone abroad? Will roaming charges increase? A There will be no immediate changes to using your phone abroad, and there won’t be an immediate impact on charges. The UK Government will need to implement a new law on roaming charges after we leave the EU, otherwise the service providers will be free to set roaming charges.


QCan I still take money out from cashpoints abroad? A Yes, you can continue to take out cash, as normal.


Q Will it be more expensive to go on holiday abroad? A Not necessarily. If you are travelling abroad and you have already paid for all of your travel arrangements, as part of a package holiday for example, then you will be protected to a large degree from a drop in the value of the pound. However, your spending power while abroad will be impacted in the event of a weaker pound, making it more expensive to buy things like meals and drinks.


Q What does this mean for the price of my holiday abroad? A If you are travelling abroad and you have already paid for all of your travel arrangements, as part of a package holiday for example, then you will be protected to a large degree from a drop in the value of the pound. People paying for overseas accommodation in other currencies (e.g. in euros or dollars) can expect to pay more in the event of a weaker pound.


Q Will the cost of flights increase? A A weaker pound may impact the cost of flights in the short term, in the longer term the UK Government will seek to negotiate full access to the EU’s common aviation market, which has delivered the open skies arrangements we have today.


Q My travel company has asked me to pay more for my holiday due to the currency fluctuations. Is that ok? A Check the terms and conditions of the organiser that you’ve booked with. If you’ve booked a package holiday this is covered by certain rules: the maximum surcharge by law is up to 10 per cent of the original cost of the holiday. If you haven’t booked a package, you should check the terms and conditions of your travel arrangement.


The only real change UK travellers will see this summer is a drop in the value of the pound in their pocket


There could be turb§ulence ahead for the airline industry


THE UK's vote to leave the EU could open a period of turbulence for the airline industry, which has soared under the EU's Single European Sky system over the last 20 years or so.


Among the mass of agreements that Britain will have to renegotiate with Brussels are those governing flights between Britain and the rest of the EU. The single sky system lifted trade restrictions on airlines controlled by EU member states or their nationals, and whose headquarters are located within the EU. Unless British negotiators manage to secure preferential conditions, British airlines will lose this status.


This will mean they no longer enjoy rights including being able to freely set airfares, and to launch any route in Europe without getting authorisation in advance. Passengers leaving or arriving in the United Kingdom could face new taxes,


while British airlines will be slower to develop new routes.


As soon as the referendum result became clear, easyJet wrote to British and EU authorities pressing them to ensure that Britain remains in the Single European Sky.


On Friday the airline insisted that Brexit will not have a major impact on its strategy, but also said it was working on alternative options to allow it to maintain its current network and operations. The long-debated construction of a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick, Britain's two main airports, could be delayed further if "Leave" campaign figurehead Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister. The former London mayor, tipped as a frontrunner to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron after the Brexit vote, has long campaigned for an alternative plan to build a new airport in the Thames estuary.


Duty Free could make a comeback


TRAVELLERS between the Republic and the UK and between the UK and the EU could see the return of duty free shopping following the Brexit vote. The EU ended the sale of tax-free alcohol, tobacco and perfume for those travelling between its member states in 1998.


However, there is speculation that it could be re- introduced as a result of the UK referendum vote to leave the EU.


The Republic's State-owned airport operator, DAA said it may be re-introduced on flights to the UK following Brexit. “However, any decision in


relation to this issue will be made by the EU as part of the process of UK exit from the European Union, which could take two years,” said a DAA spokesperson.


The European Travel Retail Confederation sparked speculation about the return of duty free last Friday by pointing out that it intended to explore specific issues relating to the duty free facility in the coming months.


But it acknowledged that the travel and aviation industries face difficulties as a result of the surprise referendum result.


ITAA President calls for caution and calm in wake of the Brexit vote


CORMAC Meehan, the recently elected President of ITAA has called for caution and calm in responding to the public vote to take the UK out of the EU.


"It cannot be doubted that Europe is moving into a period of uncertainty in terms of its relationship with the UK. Given the two-year adjustment period from the days that the British formally notify the EU of their intention to leave the EU, there is", according to the ITAA President, "adequate time to prepare for an orderly market adjustment, provided that all the relevant stakeholders, particularly, in the travel industry, cooperate."


Cormac Meehan


Cormac Meehan, who is based in Bundoran (9km from the Northern Ireland border), continued: "There are two distinct


areas of challenge: the potential volatility of currency exchange rates and the uncertainty in relation to frontier control mechanisms both at the land border with NI and at airports and ports serving the UK in Ireland."


He said a weak Sterling currency could impact on the significant number of people using both Dublin and Ireland West International Airports for leisure, business and transit/transfer travel. In the case of both airports a reduction in traffic volumes could have a direct negative impact on revenues. The corollary, he argues, could be that more major international airlines and tour operators could come to use Ireland as a hub and departure point. This may have regulatory implications for some


stakeholders. Border controls, no matter how soft, he said, can inhibit and impede free movement and transit.


He concluded that the ITAA planned to work proactively with their colleagues in ABTA and liaise with the agencies and government departments, representing all ITAA members, particularly those on the Border, to ensure that their customers rights are protected and their obligations are met. Meanwhile, the British Irish Chamber of Commerce says it remains resolute in its commitment to its business members, across the UK and Ireland as they plan for a changed future environment.


The Chamber says it will work constructively on behalf of members in supporting -


1. A comprehensive and quickly concluded trade agreement between the EU and the UK whilst recognising the unique relationship between the UK and Ireland. 2. The continuation of the long- established Common Travel Area between Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland. 3. A comprehensive and quickly concluded trade agreement between Ireland and the UK, preserving the long established free movement of capital, people, goods and services.


4. Delivery by the EU on its commitment to increase the EU’s competitiveness through reduced administrative burdens and compliance costs on business and repealing unnecessary legislation, as well as pursuing an active and ambitious policy for trade.


July/August 2016 Travel News


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