A “premature return” to pre-pandemic slot use rules in the European Union this winter risks “continuing disruption” for passengers, Iata has warned.
The European Commission intends to return to the longstanding 80-20 slot use rule, which requires airlines to operate at least 80% of every planned slot sequence.
Iata said: “While airlines are keen to restart services, the failure of several key airports to accommodate demand, coupled with increasing air traffic control delays, means a premature return to the 80-20 rule could lead to further passenger disruption.
“The evidence so far this summer has not been encouraging. Airports had the 2022 summer season schedules and final slot holdings in January and didn’t evaluate how to manage this in time.
“Airports declaring that full capacity is available and then requiring airlines to make cuts this summer shows the system is not ready for reviving ‘normal’ slot use this winter season -which begins at end of October.”
Willie Walsh, Iata’s director-general, said: “The chaos we have seen at certain airports this summer has occurred with a slot use threshold of 64%.
“We are worried that airports will not be ready in time to service an 80% threshold by the end of October.
“It is essential the member states and Parliament adjust the Commission’s proposal to a realistic level and permit flexibility to the slot use rules.
“Airports are equal partners in the slot process, let them demonstrate their ability to declare and manage their capacity accurately and competently and then restore the slot use next summer.”
However, ACI Europe, the European airports association, backed plans to reinstate standard slot usage rules from the winter.
In the UK, the British government’s short, one-off “amnesty” on airport slots rules came to an end last Friday (July 8).
More: Plan to end Covid slot waiver rules at European airports welcomed