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Ryanair warns Brexit may lead to flight cancellations

Ryanair has warned that Brexit could cause it to cancel flights and move its planes out of the UK unless a new aviation deal with the EU is struck.

The budget airline posted a 55% jump in first-quarter profits, compared to the same period last year.

Pre (Shanghai: 600048.SS - news) -tax profits rose to 397 million euros (£356m) in the three months to June 30, while revenues were up 13% to 1.9 billion euros (£1.7bn).

But the airline stressed this was boosted by a 12% rise in passenger numbers to 35 million - and by the timing of Easter this year. Last year it was in March.

Chief (Taiwan OTC: 3345.TWO - news) executive Michael O'Leary once again warned of the impact on aviation of the UK's exit from the European Union.

He said: "We remain concerned at the uncertainty which surrounds the terms of the UK's departure from the EU in March '19.

"While we continue to campaign for the UK to remain in the EU Open Skies agreement, we caution that should the UK leave, there may not be sufficient time, or goodwill on both sides, to negotiate a timely replacement bilateral which could result in a disruption of flights between the UK and Europe for a period of time from April '19 onwards.

"We, like all airlines, seek clarity on this issue before we publish our summer 2019 schedule in the second quarter of 2018.

"If we do not have certainty about the legal basis for the operation of flights between the UK and the EU by autumn 2018, we may be forced to cancel flights and move some, or all, of our UK based aircraft to Continental Europe from April '19 onwards.

"We have contingency plans in place and will, as always, adapt to changed circumstances in the best interests of our customers and shareholders."

Without a deal, UK airlines could lose their right to fly to and from Europe or operate within the EU.

EasyJet (Frankfurt: A1JTC1 - news) has already taken steps to establish a European certificate and create a new airline to continue flying in the European Union after Brexit - should Britain fail to negotiate the same aviation freedoms it currently enjoys as a member of the EU.

Average Ryanair fares rose by 1% in the period, but the company said it expected to cut its fares by 5% in the first six months of the year and by 8% between October 2017 and March 2018 amid tough competition in the sector.

"We expect the pricing environment to remain very competitive," added Mr O'Leary.