A split has emerged between airlines and airports over slot arrangements in Europe.
Iata led a call from global airline associations for governments to ensure a global alignment of airport slot regulations.
This would safeguard the “consistent, fair, and transparent allocation of slots” under the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG).
The group of airline associations argued that fragmentation of slot regulation “risks disruption to airline schedules and imperils the advances in global connectivity, efficiency, competition and choice”.
But European airports body ACI Europe responded by reiterating a demand for urgent reform of airport slot rules in the region.
The group argued that the WASG needs “to further reflect the reality of today’s European aviation market and to adequately balance the needs of all interested stakeholders – in particular airports and their communities”.
While remaining “firmly in support of the principle” of the WASG, ACI Europe, warned that “ with progress being slow at best, airport congestion becoming problematic and airline consolidation gathering pace, it is urgent that airport slot regulations in Europe are reformed”.
ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said: “Portraying the WASG as they currently stand as the unsung hero of the air transport system as Iata does is largely about protecting a status quo that benefits some but does little to ensure the integrity and competitiveness of our single European aviation market.
“Key issues for reform are rules and practices that end up preventing consumer choice and connectivity. These include the hoarding of airport slots, overbidding, slot leasing, secondary trading, abuse of new entrant status and ‘double dipping’.”
However, Iata director general Willie Walsh insisted that the air transport industry “thrives on consistent global standards” and described WASG as the “unsung hero” the air transport system.
He added: “Because of the WASG, travellers, businesses and economies the world over have benefited from constant growth in air connectivity, strong competition, and route diversity while ensuring that utilisation of scarce airport capacity also increased.
“Governments should align their slot rules with this global standard to benefit from better air connectivity, efficiency, and consumer choice.”