Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on Brexit's impact on flights

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Flight demand to Luxembourg is likely to decrease once Britain's departure from the EU is confirmed

Q Do you think Flybe might pull out of the new Manchester-Luxembourg route because of Brexit?

Erin Welander

A All airlines are looking closely at profitability after the vote to leave the EU, and the subsequent impact on business in terms of sinking sterling and rising costs. Flybe will no doubt be studying booking levels and yields (average fares) across its network.

Typically, new routes are slow to turn a profit, and in many previous downturns the first links to be axed are the most recent to be introduced – such as the new Manchester-Luxembourg route, which is scheduled to begin in Septemeber.

Yet in the short term at least, the route may actually thrive. With so much coming and going to Europe as the UK detaches from the “mother ship,” it may be that business actually rises. But once we have left, it seems likely that the demand for links to Luxembourg – and other “Euro” cities such as Brussels and Strasbourg – will decline.

Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet@simoncalder