ACI Europe calls for updated slot rules at European airports

ACI Europe, the eloquent representative of airports across the continent, is backing its plea for a complete overhaul of the rules governing slot allocation, essential to airlines' day-to-day operations.

This need for modernization became particularly evident in the wake of the recent pandemic shocks, which revealed the rigidity of the current system. Indeed, the rules in place have sometimes hampered efforts to put in place rapid and flexible air traffic recovery measures.

The current context of time slots

Slots are a crucial authorization for each airline to take off or land at certain defined times. Each year, as the seasons change, the authorities determine the capacity of airports to plan these slots.

The efficient management of these slots is crucial to the fluidity of both airport operations and the economic mobilization linked to the sector. In the European context, the "EU Slot Regulation" provides the current framework for their distribution.

The challenges facing airports

For ACI Europe, the current approach has several shortcomings, threatening to hamper the ability of airports to adapt to unexpected waves of demand or crises. Emblematic moments such as the health crisis required a rapid response, which was not always possible without regulatory flexibility.

Concerns were expressed about potential "airport congestion", where travelers might spend far more time waiting than necessary. A more flexible regulatory environment could mitigate these potential impacts.

Planning and future needs

The planning of future seasons, such as the winter season which runs from October 31 to March 27 each year, could benefit from a different approach to accommodating growing traffic while optimizing available resources.

The need for change also lies in the need to integrate new technological advances and efforts towards decarbonization, a critical step towards more sustainable aviation. sustainable in the coming years. By 2022, Eurocontrol had estimated that modernization could significantly increase the efficiency of airport operations.

Impact on airlines

A possible revision of the rules could have significant consequences for airlines. Here are some examples, Lufthansawith its recent EU authorization to acquire a stake in ITA Airways, could benefit from new dynamics based on more flexible slot allocation.

This can open up interesting strategic and economic opportunities, enabling new routes to be exploited and existing capacity to be optimized. So, an updated approach could well offer this and other aviation giants greater strategic latitude.

Comparison of Current Practices and ACI Europe Recommendations on Time Slots

Element	Current Practices	ACI Europe recommendations
Update Frequency	Twice a year	Greater flexibility to adapt to changing traffic conditions
Slot capacity	Depends on statutory forecasts	Include growth margins
Award criteria	First come, first served	Taking airport needs into account
Seasonality	Fixed planning	Seasonally adaptable
Exemptions	Limited	Augmented for special situations
Unequal demand	Unaddressed	More balanced distribution
Post-COVID flexibility	Little integrated	Focus on flexibility
Environmental impact	Marginally considered	Better aligned with decarbonization
Transparency	Variable	Increasing the number of players
Stakeholder participation	Often limited	Strengthening inclusion

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