The issue of airport slots has returned to European news agendas. A number of MEPs have echoed the airlines’ call (see EUROPE 12515/5) for an extension to the temporary suspension of the EU regulation on airport slots.
On Tuesday 14 July, nine members of the EPP sent a letter to Adina Vălean, the European Commissioner for Transport, asking her not to wait until September to consider this option. The MEPs included: Tomasz Frankowski (Poland), shadow rapporteur on revision of the regulation on slots (2011/0391) and Marian-Jean Marinescu (Romania), the group’s coordinator in the Transport Committee.
The EU has allowed airlines to waive the European regulation requiring them to operate at least 80% of their slots at European airports until 24 October (see EUROPE 12456/17).
The decision may be extended by the Commission issuing a delegated act: just like the airlines, the nine MEPs are therefore calling for the waiver to continue to apply during the winter season 2020/2021, i.e. until 27 March 2021.
“Taking into account the uncertainty around government restrictions, quarantines and the risk of a second wave, consumer demand will still be significantly reduced during the winter season”, they say.
The Commission is required to prepare a report on the situation by 15 September and intends to wait until that date to make a decision.
The signatories to the letter emphasise that “European airlines are currently in the final weeks of planning the winter schedule”, but nevertheless urge the Commission to present a summary report in the next few weeks with a view to publishing a delegated act before the end of July.
However, airport managing bodies point out that this operational flexibility comes at a high cost to the airports; they believe that the situation is still too uncertain for an extension to be granted. The Commission is committed to making a balanced decision (see EUROPE 12515/5).
The letter from the nine MPs can be found at: https://bit.ly/3j8yb6u (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)