'Not many businesses are likely to be ready for Brexit on 1 January'

Speaking at the Abta Travel Convention in a session exploring “Brexit preparedness”, Giles Hawke said having to prepare for Brexit while also operating under the shadow of Covid was a “huge challenge”, especially given the lack of a deal agreed between the UK and EU.

“One of the big challenges we’ve got is that we don’t know if there’s going to be a deal or no deal. We’re hoping there is some form of deal because that should give us some sort of clarity and a little bit of certainty - a no deal throws things into complete disarray. Every company needs to look at exactly what the bare bones of leaving the EU are.”

Hawke added he would “love the government to turn around and say because of what’s happening with Covid, because of the lateness of getting the deal or no deal, we should extend the period past the 1 of January or we should request that the EU allow us to extend by a little bit”.

“Because I don’t think many businesses are going to be fully ready on the 1 January given the background of everything else that’s going on more globally, and in travel,” he added.