Airports and airlines have urged the European Commission (EC) to align its proposal on airport slot relief in summer 2021 with aviation industry recommendations.

According to Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the proposal does not sufficiently address the extent of the continuing crisis in air transport, the likely state of recovery in summer 2021 and the required level of airport slot relief measures that would best support aviation’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Airports, alongside airlines and slot coordinators negotiated a worldwide recommendation for relief measures in the Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASB). Developed in parallel to these negotiations, the Commission proposal differs significantly from the WASB recommendation.

The EC suggests in its proposal that airport slots should be handed back three weeks prior to operation on a rolling basis, but offers no ability for airlines to return slots in bulk without risking future access to airports. In addition, the proposal also does not support airlines seeking access to airport slots in summer 2021, because they will not get the opportunity to plan for a full season or series in one go.

In contrast, the approach recommended by WASB is for carriers to be incentivised to return to their full series of airport slots in February (ahead of the summer season) in return for alleviation from airport slot usage requirements altogether. This would allow for the early reallocation of those airport slots and their ad hoc use throughout the season if needed. Similarly airlines can optimise their schedules under challenging conditions. This is an essential measure that would facilitate the industry’s ability to cater to demand when and where it materialises.

The EC proposal does not offer any alleviation and proposes that every single airport slot series be operated at least 40% of the time – an unrealistic expectation that could lead to airlines operating ‘ghost flights’ simply to maintain their slots.

While ACI Europe’s Director General, Olivier Jankovec, welcomed the EC’s efforts to make a timely proposal for summer 2021 slot relief, he warned it falls short of what is needed. “In contrast to the industry’s recommendations, the EC’s proposal does not allow for sufficient early planning opportunities for airports and airlines alike – which risks hindering recovery and adding costs,” he said. “We believe that the full package of balanced airport slot relief measures proposed by the industry should be implemented in full to ensure European aviation has a fair and level playing field to recover.” He added that ACI Europe will actively engage with all EU institutions and governments to push for the necessary changes.

Meanwhile the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) Regional Vice President for Europe, Rafael Schvartzman, stated that:

The Commission’s proposal is insufficient for a crisis of this magnitude. They have ignored the expertise of airlines and airports who are experiencing first-hand the magnitude of the shifts in consumer behaviour, as well as the independent views of the slot coordinators who best understand the mechanics of slot coordination. The industry is proposing a smarter and more agile policy that will support recovery, facilitate slot mobility, and ensure that consumers have access to competitive services when demand returns. We stand ready to work with the EU institutions to see the changes needed to make good of this proposal.

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