Allocation of slots at Community airports

PURPOSE: to temporarily suspend the rules on airport slots in order to help airlines adapt their capacity in view of the reduced demand caused by the coronavirus epidemic (COVID 19).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2020/459 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports.

CONTENT: in view of the fall in the number of flights caused by the coronavirus epidemic, the Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 provides for the temporary suspension of the rules on airport slots which oblige airlines to use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots in order to be able to retain them the following year (‘use-it-or-lose-it’ rule).

Air carriers have reported significant decline in bookings and cancellations of flights for the winter 2019/2020 and summer 2020 scheduling periods due to the spread of COVID-19.

The waiver is designed to help air carriers cope with the sharp drop in air traffic caused by the coronavirus crisis and to prevent aircraft from flying half-empty during the pandemic.

It shall apply from 1 March to 24 October 2020. In concrete terms, coordinators shall consider slots allocated for this period as having been operated by the air carrier to which they were originally allocated.

The exemption shall also apply retroactively from 23 January to 29 February 2020 for flights between the EU and China or Hong Kong. The starting date of application, 23 January 2020, corresponds to the date of closure of the first airport by the Chinese authorities.

The Commission shall continuously monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the air transport sector and the EU and report on the subject by 15 September 2020 at the latest. If the situation persists, the measures may be rapidly extended by a delegated act of the Commission.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1.4.2020.