By akademiotoelektronik, 10/03/2022

What are these "slots" for which airlines fly empty in order to keep them? Loading...

In each country, each year, the allocation of slots is examined by an authority. Discussions are taking place between this authority, the airlines and the airports. It's a bit like the model of a stock exchange where the companies assert their rights to keep this or that time slot, where they can also claim to obtain new slots. There are award criteria.

The historical aspect comes into play. From one year to another, a company has the right to keep its slots. This is where European regulations come into play. To continue to operate a flight from a given airport at a specific time, the company must have performed 80% of the flights in this slot. "Europe issued regulations in the early 90s in such a way as to be able to increase efficiency and oblige companies to use at least 80% of the slots they hold", explains Waldo Cerdan. The reason ? “Avoid blocking positions and thus preventing competitors from coming,” continues Waldo Cerdan.

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If there are slots left in an airport that are not used by existing companies, these slots can be allocated to other airlines, either those already active in this airport, or others who would like to develop their activities there. .

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