Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

The European Commission intends to extend the waiver of its so-called “80-20 use-it-or-lose it” slot allocation rule for the winter period running until March 27, the EC announced Monday. However, in a written statement, EC transport commissioner Adina Valean expressed concern that, despite the positive effects of the waiver, some airlines have taken advantage of the system to the detriment of airports and competitors.

 


Valean also stressed the importance of reinstituting the previous rules as soon as traffic returns to a stable level, adding that she hopes to present a proposal for doing so by the end of the year.

 


Under the slot allocation rules, which the EC first waived on March 30, air carriers must use at least 80 percent of a slot series allocated to them or lose historical precedence for the slots. The amendment aimed to protect the financial health of airlines during the Covid-19-related traffic disruptions and avoid the environmental effects of empty or largely empty flights operated solely to maintain underlying airport slots.

 


However, a commission report released Monday to the European Parliament and Council admitted to certain “shortcomings,” such as the failure of the waiver rule to set a specific time limit for carriers to temporarily hand back their unused slots for use&nbsp;by other carriers while maintaining their historic rights to them. &nbsp;

 


“The initial slot waiver—adopted in the early days of the crisis—has allowed airlines to make financially sound decisions on whether to run flights, as well as avoid ghost flights,” said Valean. “Nonetheless, our&nbsp;report also highlights certain problems with the current waiver, which are preventing airlines from using airport capacity efficiently. Slots are not always relinquished in time for other users or airports to plan operations as they would like; competition may also be distorted if airlines seek to benefit by increasing their market presence without using their slots and airport capacity correctly. Such behavior can hamper competition and can, therefore, harm EU passengers and freight customers. This must be remedied.”

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

EC To Extend Slot Waiver through Winter Season

While announcing her intention to extend a waiver of the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule, European transport commissioner Adina Valean lamented shortcomings.  

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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