European airlines are opposed to the UK getting "any favourable deal" to secure air routes after Brexit, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has warned.
The carrier's chief executive said EU airlines are "actively campaigning" for the UK to be offered a bilateral agreement which would be "almost unacceptable" to those in favour of a so-called hard Brexit.
The single market for aviation, created in the 1990s, means there are no commercial restrictions for airlines flying within the EU.
Mr O'Leary again warned that flights between the UK and the EU will be grounded in summer 2019 if no deal is reached by September next year.
He told a central London press conference he has seen briefing documents put out by airlines which call for any future flights to be under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Mr O'Leary said: "There's no doubt in our minds that the German and French airlines in particular are opposed to the UK getting any favourable deal.
"They are in favour and are actively campaigning for a bilateral with the UK under which the UK must accept ECJ jurisdiction, they accept all past and future regulation of air travel by the European authorities.
"(This) makes it almost unacceptable to those who believe here in a hard Brexit.
"They do not wish to be seen to bend the knee to the European Court of Justice or European regulations."
He said the airline logos on the documents include Lufthansa, Air France and KLM.
