Are you an international student or maybe planning to study abroad? Then the recent UK government statement may have left you revaluating your options.
In a recent warning from the government, it stated that a no-deal Brexit may cause disruption to plane travel between the UK and Europe. It was also stated that the same could happen to bus services if no-deal is reached.
If this outcome is reached all EU-issued aviation licenses would no longer be valid making airlines seek permission individually to allow them to fly across Europe. Although the government said it would allow EU airlines to land on British soil and hope that other European countries would reciprocate this, some flights may still be grounded.
Tim Alderslade, Airlines UK trade body’s chief executive, an organisation which represents 13 UK-registered carriers has said that the airlines hoped that the UK and EU would reach a new agreement on the topic of aviation.
"Whilst we don't support a no-deal Brexit, we welcome that both the UK and the EU are proposing in this event a minimum agreement that would cover flight and safety requirements for the benefit of both passenger and cargo services," he said.
As for buses and British motorists, a ‘green card’ would be needed to allow them to drive through Europe to provide proof of their third-party insurance. But the document does say that the UK aims to join the EU’s Interbus agreement as an independent body by March next year to make it easier for bus travel between the nations.
International student Sera from Poland explained how this issue makes her feel cautious about returning to University after this academic year:
“This makes me very concerned about my time in the UK next year, how will I get home or even back to Aberdeen after the summer?
“I just hope the government realises how this will affect their foreign students who enjoy studying here.”
The grounding of flights will leave many foreign students across the UK looking for new ways to go home or even leaving them stranded in the UK until aviation travel could be sorted.
Another student worried about this idea of having no flights to return home is Dorottya, an international student from Hungary:
“Well, this would make my life here 100 times more difficult because I’ve been planning to use those flights for the next four years minimum.”
When asked if this would impact their decision to study in the UK both said yes but stated it would depend on the remaining options for travel.
Overall, the threat of a no-deal Brexit won’t only impact travel between the nations but the decision on many international students minds on whether to study in the UK or not.