Article from BTNews 24 JANUARY 2022
Airport slots review *
The airport slots review, published today (Monday 24 January) and put before Parliament will not satisfy all airlines. 
It is a short-term measure to see out the summer 2022 season with an adjusted ratio of 70:30. Airlines will have to use their slots 70% of the time to retain their rights to them, assuming demand for flights continues to return to pre-pandemic levels. Until the pandemic broke out the ratio was 80:20.
Although not directly involved in UK air travel IATA's Willie Walsh knows the situation better than most.
Airlines are keen to retain their slots and in the manner of professional soccer often loan and rent them out, as in the case of British Airways and Vueling (see Vueling adds at Gatwick in this week’s BTN). Wizz, keen to expand at Gatwick, would clearly love to take up any slots vacated by BA.
The UK Government says that following consultation with the sector, the extension of alleviation from slots rules will further support its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic as air travel returns to normal levels. It says it aims to balance the need for continued support for the aviation sector, providing airlines with enough flexibility to adapt to changing restrictions and concerns around new variants, while ensuring slots get used where demand allows. It also takes advantage of the UK’s new freedom to set its own slots rules after leaving the EU, to whose rules we were previously tied.
As part of this, the list of situations where airlines can claim justification for not using their slots is being widened further. No ghost flights will now be needed to obey the rules.
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “Leaving the EU has allowed us to take back control of our airport slots rules, giving us greater flexibility to balance the needs of our magnificent aviation industry as it faces up to the pandemic.
“Today’s extension marks a step back towards normal rules, helping the sector to recover and grow as travel returns, while protecting it against any future uncertainty.”
IATA's CEO had this to say.
"The UK government decision on slots, proposing the highest slot use threshold in the world, makes a mockery of their claims to be supporting the recovery of the airline industry and to be champions of the environment. Unfortunately this is yet another example of administrative ineptitude from an out-of-touch government.
"Although demand for flying is improving. passengers continue to face travel and domestic restrictions in many parts of the world, so it is inconceivable that international demand will average 70% this summer. The Government is therefore condemning airlines to operate thousands of flights at low capacity which is environmentally stupid. It is particularly disappointing to see the government has failed to exploit its self-proclaimed “Brexit dividend”—on the contrary, it has put in place a more restrictive slot regime than the EU!”
https://airlines.iata.org/blog/2021/12/slot-use-flexibility-is-more-important-than-ever
OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum
malcolm Ginsberg, United Kingdom
Marion Geoffroy is MD of Wizz Air (UK), Luton since August 2021
Marion Geoffroy, Luton
Although we have been calling for full reinstatement to the original 80:20 slot usage rules, Wizz Air welcomes the Government’s decision today as it is a step in the right direction. As we see more and more markets return to normal with the easing of COVID-19 domestic and travel restrictions, we know there is significant pent-up demand for travel – as was seen with Wizz Air’s return towards pre-pandemic traffic levels last summer. “We are pleased that the Government has recognised the need for these plans to be in place ready for the summer season, which has the potential to be a great opportunity for UK aviation to really get back on its feet. However, we would continue to urge the Government to transition to the full reinstatement of the 80:20 slot usage rules, so that consumers will once again benefit from a competitive UK aviation market.
Brian Hope, Crawley
I am not a fan of Willie Walsh but now he is not in charge of an airline, and its staff, he can take a much more overall view. Well said Mr Walsh.