The nine organisations, including Airlines for Europe (A4E), Airports Council International and the European Regions Airline Association, said that “it’s time to stand up for the EU”.

The statement comes just days before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to trigger Article 50 to begin the UK’s departure from the EU. May has vowed to make this move next Wednesday (March 29).

“As businesses and together with our employees, we cannot afford to lose the freedom, legal certainty, connectivity and prosperity enabled by the Single Aviation Market,” said the nine aviation groups in their joint statement.

“We are mindful that these essential benefits are intrinsically linked to the wider political endeavours and dynamics of the EU.
 
“This is why we are calling on member states to preserve, reform and strengthen the EU.”

There are doubts about whether the UK can remain within the Single Aviation Market, which has been in place since 1997, after leaving the EU because it relies on the freedom of movement of labour, which the UK government plans to restrict following Brexit.