Brexit and aviation: no change yet. Then "bare bones"?

The UK will leave the EU at 11pm UK time/midnight Brussels time on 31-Jan-2020, ending 47 years of membership. However, the formal symbolism aside, it will change nothing for now. The hard bits begin now. This is when the UK discovers if the grass really is greener on the other side.

Both the UK and EU Parliaments have finally ratified the renegotiated withdrawal agreement reached in Oct-2019. Consequently, the UK remains in the EU's single market and customs union and bound by its rules until 31-Dec-2020, while ceasing to be a member state. This transition period is supposed to give time to negotiate new trading arrangements covering all sectors of the economy.

Focusing on aviation, the UK will remain in the European Common Aviation Area for the rest of 2020, allowing mutual access to airlines of both sides to routes between (and within) the UK and the rest of the European single aviation market. It also keeps the UK in the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, ensuring no interruption to existing safety regulations.

The transition period avoids the immediate prospect of a 'hard' Brexit, but may only delay that until 2021 if new agreements are not reached.

For aviation, flights could potentially be grounded. More likely, however, is a 'bare bones' deal on traffic rights and safety regulation.