The European Union is suspending a rule that forces airline’s to run most of their scheduled services even if there is no demand for them.
Up to now, EU law required airlines to fill at least 80% of their landing slots at airports – or risk losing them.
With demand for flights flat-lining due to the coronavirus outbreak, the rule saw some airlines flying almost-empty planes around the continent.
There were also reports of ‘ghost flights’ with planes travelling without any passengers at all.
Airlines generally assign the landing slots to airlines for free; however, they are valuable commodities and are often worth millions of pounds.
Watch the press statement with President @vonderleyen on #COVID19 ⬇️https://t.co/GUWoU4QsGb
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) March 10, 2020
This afternoon, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the rules would be relaxed to give airlines some “breathing space” while countries respond to the outbreak.
She said the outbreak has had a “major impact on the European aviation industry,” adding that the “situation is deteriorating on a daily basis” with traffic expected to decline further.
“The Commission will put forward, very rapidly, legislation, regarding the so-called airport slots,” she said.
“We want to make it easier for airlines to keep their airport slot even if they do not operate flights in those slots because of the declining traffic.
“This temporary measure helps our industry but it also helps our environment. It will relieve the pressure on the aviation industry and in particular on smaller airline companies.
“But it will also decrease emissions by avoiding the so-called ghost flights, when airlines fly almost empty planes simply to keep their slot.
She said the aviation issues are “just one example of a sector where help is needed” adding that the EU was “ready to act” in other areas.
Earlier today, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said the airline was being "forced to fly almost empty planes or lose our valuable slots" after passenger demand plummeted.
Calling for the rules to be relaxed, “given the almost unprecedented impact on global passenger demand,” he warned that “common sense must prevail.”
European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean called on the European Parliament and Council to swiftly adopt the EU Slot legislation.
Ms von der Leyen said the measure was temperature; however, she did not indicate how long it would remain in force.
