British Airways could be looking at a future under Spanish rule as its parent group IAG prepares for the outcome of Brexit.
According to local newspaper El Pais, the group is currently in talks with the Spanish government and the European Commission to establish its status as a company located in the EU, following the outcome of the negotiations.
The group already has headquarters in Madrid as well as London, not to mention further European ties with other airlines it owns such as Iberia and Vueling.
Therefore, there could be the possibility that IAG becomes considered to be a Spanish company, therefore a group located in the EU and regulated by them, while simultaneously complying with rules applying to the UK.
The news comes as the deadline for Brexit in March 2019 draws ever nearer, and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit looms.
Of course the impact of Brexit on aviation is not yet known, but it’s the uncertainty that seems to be prompting moves from the aviation industry, which falls under a whole host of existing agreements between the UK and EU.
In fact, one Dutch minister previously warned a no-deal Brexit could see some flights halted to the UK, with airline KLM admitting it was looking at a "contingency" plan.
A representative from IAG told the Mirror Online the group was "confident" that whether a Brexit deal was negotiated or not, an agreement regarding the aviation industry rules and regulations would be found.
They said: "We remain confident that a comprehensive air transport agreement between the EU and the UK will be reached.
"It’s in the UK and EU’s interests to have a fully liberalised aviation agreement.
"Aviation liberalisation has been a great success story across Europe benefiting one billion customers each year and creating a huge number of jobs across the continent.
"Even if there is no Brexit deal, both the EU and UK have said they will put an agreement in place that allows flights to continue."
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