Budget airline Ryanair has urged the Government to secure agreements which mimic those allowing barrier-free travel between the UK and EU.

The Irish carrier said it transports roughly 40pc of the approximately 25.3 million European tourists who come to the UK from the Continent and it would be crucial for the Government to ensure agreements in place now, which allow carriers to freely fly between the UK and mainland Europe, were replicated entirely by the time the country exits the bloc.

Leaving the EU without such an agreement could cause difficulties for airlines and Ryanair urged the Government to focus on an aviation agreement as a key priority.

The uncertainty of Brexit has already led the airline to cool its UK growth plans. For its financial year to 31 March 2017, it is expected to have grown capacity by 15pc but in its 2018 financial year this is only expected to be 6pc.