Brussels, 20/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation concerning the allocation of time slots in airports. As announced in detail (in EUROPE of 18 May, p.12), it is at this stage simply a matter of cleaning up a text that has been in force since 1993, in order to make the criteria for slot allocation more transparent, to decongest airports and develop competition between airline companies. In a second stage, the Commission plans to launch a detailed examination of the system for allocation of slots followed up by ample consultation with Member States and the aviation industry, it states in a press release. The new regulation will improve the management of slots, said Commissioner Loyola de Palacio. She pointed out that it comes within the Commission's strategy for reducing delays in European airports that are becoming increasingly saturated.
The new regulation, that has been awaited for the past six years, should essentially: 1) specify the legal nature of slots recalling that slots are solely a "right of use" and are not owned by airline companies, which must put all unused slots back into a "pool"; 2) clarify the rules for slot allocation in order to make them more transparent and to ensure there is a balance between companies already present in an airport and new entrants; 3) strengthen the role and the independence of the coordinator responsible for slot allocation twice yearly, conferring upon the coordinator the power to impose penalties in the event of abuse.
In answer to criticism raised by companies with regard to the first projects, the Commission specifies in its press release that it takes into account the need to develop regional services and the alliance process. In practice, the regulation does not bring into question the right of companies to recover slots from companies that they acquire, pointed out Ms de Palacio, speaking to the press on the AOM/Air Liberté case.