With air traffic still at historic lows and showing no signs of a full recovery until the pandemic crisis abates, airlines are looking for an extension of the ‘slot waiver’ that has allowed them to hold on to their airport landing and take-off rights even though they are not using them all.
Slots, good for one take-off or one landing, are how airport space is rationed out, especially for airports that are at or near their capacity. In most case, the rule requires an airline to use at least 80% of its slots on a regular basis, but during the pandemic, most jurisdictions have waived the rule to avoid chaos in the air traffic system when it resumes. The current waivers run out March 31.
International Air Transport Association, which represents most larger airlines, along with Airports Council International, have asked for the rules to be suspended until at least October, or if re-instated, to have a 50% rather than an 80% threshold.
The idea is not universally popular; many smaller and low-fare airlines which have coveted slots at the busiest airports are anxious to have the rule enforced, allowing them to claim slots that the larger airlines would forfeit.
