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Airlines

Ryanair Boss Explains Just Why Brexit Will Be So Difficult

Patrick Whyte

Photo Credit: Ryanair marked 20 years of low fares at Leeds Bradford Airport. Fares are getting even lower because of Bexit, says CEO Michael O'Leary. Ryanair

Skift Take

The European Union revolutionised the airline industry in Europe, helping to foster the boom in cheap flights by creating a single market and doing away with bilateral agreements. How the UK extricates itself from this will be just one area to keep an eye on in the coming negotiations.

In the run up to the UK’s European Union referendum earlier this summer, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary was one of the most vocal corporate backers of the status quo – even going as far as to pose for pictures in a half Union Jack, half flag of Europe suit. Things didn't turn out the way he wanted and in the aftermath of the Brexit vote O'Leary said that he would shift investment away from the UK to instead focus on the rest of Europe. Almost two months later he is still not backing down. While the carrier revealed two new routes as part of its London summer 2017 schedule, growth from the UK is set to slow from 15 percent in the current financial year to six percent in 2018. Despite the lack of a Brexit-induced slow-d

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