With air traffic increasing near to pre-pandemic levels, the European Parliament approved a gradual return to standard airport slots operating rules. While the take-off and landing slots rules for airlines were updated, some exceptions introduced during the pandemic remain valid.
1. Slot allocation
During a plenary vote last week in Strasbourg, MEPs set a path towards a gradual return to the ‘use it or lose it’ rules on the allocation of slots at EU airports, which were suspended from March 2020 to March 2021 to respond to the pandemic and then gradually reinstated for the following seasons.
According to the new rulling, as of 30 October 2022 airlines would have to use 75% of their planned take-off and landing slots, instead of the 80% required before the pandemic, in order to keep them the following season. From the 2023 summer season, the standard 80% slot utilisation requirement will apply. According to the slot rules, airport slots are allocated by independent coordinators, for summer or winter scheduling seasons.
The new rules were adopted by 457 votes.
Returning to a higher slots utilisation rate was necessary to guarantee the smooth functioning of the air sector, and permitted by encouraging traffic forecasts for the coming winter season.
Dominique Riquet, MEP
2. Exceptions
Parliament also approved further exceptions to justify not using the slots, such as epidemiological emergencies, natural disasters, or widespread political unrest with a disruptive effect on air travel. The European Commission can also lower the minimum slot utilisation rate if air traffic levels fall below 80% — compared with 2019 figures — for two consecutive weeks due to Covid-19, or another epidemiological situation, or as a direct result of the Russia-Ukraine war.
With a generous force majeure clause and a reduced use rate adaptable in case of a drop in traffic, MEPs are making sure slot use rules prevent flights that demand does not justify. Coming back to 70% is backed neither by @eurocontrol data nor airlines’ winter programmes. https://t.co/YzXxEvJsRT
— Dominique Riquet (@DominiqueRiquet) September 29, 2022
3. Connecting EU and Ukraine
In addition, the new rules allow for air connectivity to be restored between the EU and Ukraine when the time comes. For example, there would be a 16-week recovery period before slot-use requirements become applicable again once Ukrainian airspace reopens. MEPs set up these relief measures for two scheduling seasons, from 30 October 2022 until 28 October 2023.
After the Parliament’s green light, the EU Council also has to approve the new rules for the aviation sector before they start officially applying.
