Back in December 2020, the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) offered EU based private jet charter operators the chance to apply for a Third Country Operator (TCO) block permit valid till 31st March 2021.
GlobeAir applied and successfully received the certificate. All EU based operators who have received this TCO are now able to fly with passengers from any EU member state to the UK and also return from the UK to any EU member state, but are not permitted to operate domestic flights within the UK with passengers. UK based private jet charter operators can fly with pax from the UK to one EU member state and return but need a permit which causes massive paperwork and additional fees for every flight.
We expect that all 27 EU member states will soon start negotiations to replace these burdensome flight permits with bilateral TCO block permits. We hope that these negotiations will be launched soon and that they will progress quickly. The UK plays an important role in European aviation and should therefore remain an integral part of it. However, there will be restrictions and additional requirements on both sides and in any case.
Are there any changes to private flights with pets?
Post-Brexit changes for flights with pets affect those travelling from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland. The old UK pet passport is no longer valid. There are no changes for travel to the UK for which the existing pet passport can currently still be used. From the 1st January 2021, travellers with pets flying from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland will instead need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). The AHC must be issued at least 10 days before travelling to the EU and is then valid for four months, during which time it allows travel within the EU. The current entry requirements for the UK have not changed and the UK pet passport can still be used for entry, along with the usual vaccination requirements. The animal health certificate can also be used for reentry into the UK if it is still valid.
