Airlines
European Commission Pledges Relief from 80/20 Slot Obligation
Brussels believes the Covid-19 outbreak’s “major” effect on traffic warrants a relaxation of the EU slot rule.

Responding to calls from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Brussels-based trade group Airlines for Europe (A4E), the European Commission on Tuesday pledged it will put forward “very rapidly” legislation to temporarily suspend the EU rule that requires air carriers to operate slots for at least 80 percent of the time to keep the entitlement in the next equivalent season. According to commission president Ursula von der Leyen the measure will relieve pressure on aviation as traffic continues to plunge owing to the global spread of the Covid-19 virus while it will also help the environment. The waiver of the so-called 80/20 use-it-or-lose-it rule, she said, “will decrease emissions by avoiding the so-called ‘ghost flights'—when airlines fly almost empty planes—simply to keep their slots.”


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