The European Commissions (EC) to responding to industry pressure over slot use obligations and is planning the temporary suspension of “use it or lose” regulations, which both IATA, and other industry associations, have been calling for due to the impact of Covid 19.
The EC said it will put forward “targeted legislation” which will “temporarily alleviate” airlines from the need to follow slot usage rules and allow airlines to adjust capacity to match demand.
Under the current slot regulations airlines must use any allocated slot at least 80% of the time or face having to surrender it.
But with the Covid 19 outbreak slashing demand, airlines are having to operate lose making flights in order to hold onto slots.
This move was welcomed by Shai Weiss, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic who said that airlines globally, the impact of Covid-19 on bookings has been “significant” and required a speedy response.
“The European Commission today indicated it is in favour of a temporary relaxation of the “use it or lose it” rule for flight slots at regulated airports. This is a positive step, but we urgently expect detail of these measures, and confirmation that alleviation will apply to all markets for the full summer season.
“Prompt publishing of the legislation will allow the UK slot co-ordinator to act, enabling Virgin Atlantic and other airlines to operate schedules more efficiently and avoid flying almost empty planes for the sake of retaining valuable slots, which in turn creates unnecessary carbon emissions, ” said Weiss.