UK airports and airlines are demanding the government reinstate the 80:20 “Use it or Lose It” airport slot rules – where an airline has to use an airport take-off and landing slot for 80% of the time or risk losing it – which were suspended during the pandemic crisis as airlines were prevented from flying. The Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASB), comprising Airports Council International (ACI World), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Worldwide Airport Coordinators Group (WWACG), recommended in November 2020 to maintain airport slot use relief for the 2021 northern summer season.
A coalition of four airlines and airports have urged the UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to reinstate the rules to “ensure that UK consumers once again benefit from effective choice of destination and airline, as well as efficient and fair pricing”.
The coalition stated in a letter to the secretary that although they recognise that the rule needed to be suspended during the pandemic but that it needs to be fully reinstated for the “vital” summer season 2022 when passenger numbers are expected to rise, following successful vaccination campaigns and the removal of many travel restrictions.
The letter also focuses on examples of the potential negative impact on consumer, including reduced choice of destination and airlines, and says that competition issues have already been raised with the CMA – the UK’s competition watchdog.
Also underlined in the letter is that the restoration of discipline in Europe’s airport slot regime has not led to ghost flights (flights carrying no or few passengers) but has in fact supported the restoration of connectivity to the benefits of passengers and businesses.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “In our view it is imperative that the UK Government gets fully behind the recovery of the UK aviation sector by restoring the slot rules so that competition once again flourishes for both the benefit of industry and the consumer. A continued slot waiver would be a disproportionate response to market conditions. A decision on the summer 2022 slots before Christmas would allow proper planning of resources to enable a smooth ramp up of operations as the industry continues its recovery.”
Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK said: “We have been calling for the reinstatement of the 80:20 slot rules for some time and would strongly urge the UK Government to put these plans in place ready for the 2022 Summer season. It is simply wrong that some UK airlines should be allowed to hold onto these slots for another season if they have no intention of operating them. We have already started to see a return towards pre-pandemic traffic levels, and Summer 2022 has the potential to be a great opportunity for UK aviation to get back on its feet, if the Government supports the industry by restoring the slot rules and allowing competition to flourish for the benefit of the industry, and most importantly the consumer”.
Graham Keddie, managing director, Belfast International Airport said: “The successful vaccination campaigns and the subsequent easing of border restrictions has allowed the market to recover; meaning that passengers can book with confidence. We are therefore calling upon government to restore the slot rules. This will allow the industry to rebuild while ensuring passengers have choice by creating opportunities for potential new entrants to market.