13 August 2021

SLOT RELIEF RULES FOR AIRLINES AMENDED AND EXTENDED

On 23 July 2021, the European Commission proposed to amend the Slot Regulation and extended the slot relief rules adopted in February 2021. Extensive data collection and exchanges with stakeholders shows that air traffic is still low compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 crisis, and is likely to remain that way. The relief will therefore be extended to the coming winter scheduling season, running from 31 October 2021 until 27 March 2022.

Instead of the normal requirement to use at least 80% of a given slot series to retain historic rights in those slots, airlines will only have to use 50% of a given slot series. Furthermore, the use requirement will not apply at all when state-imposed measures severely impede passengers’ ability to travel on routes for which the slots were intended (the so-called ‘justified non-use of slots’ exception). With many questions still open on the COVID-19 crisis, the Commission notes that the ‘justified non-use of slots’ exception is an appropriate tool to address future unforeseen circumstances without unduly blocking airport capacity, where it may turn out to be unnecessary. 

Source: European Commission