IP/08/672
Brussels, 30th April 2008
Airport slot allocation: The Commission
clarifies the existing rules
The European Commission today adopted a
Communication on the application of the slot allocation Regulation. The
Communication clarifies a number of issues in order to ensure a better
implementation of the existing rules and to improve the efficient use of scarce
capacity at congested Community airport. In particular, it signals the
acceptance of "secondary trading" of airport slots between air
carriers.
Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, said "At
crowded airports, we need to make sure that slots are used as efficiently as
possible and that airlines have a fair chance to develop their operations. Slots
at airports must be distributed in a fair and non-discriminatory way. Today we
are recognising for the first time that secondary trading is an acceptable way
of allowing slots to be swapped among airlines. We will keep a close eye on the
situation across Europe and ensure that secondary trading works to the advantage
of consumers, but this system has already shown its value in London, where it
has allowed a range of airlines to take advantage of the opportunities provided
by the EU-US aviation agreement and to create new levels of competition."
The Communication states the Commission’s views with regard to the
implementation of the Regulation in a number of areas with which stakeholders
have experienced particular difficulties. The Communication draws from
–and elaborates on- the Commission’s, Member States’ and
stakeholders’ experience with the application of the Regulation, which was
revised in 2004.
The Communication explains how the rules with respect to the independence of
the slot coordinator, new entry, local guidelines and exchange of slots for
monetary and other consideration should be interpreted.
The Communication emphasises the need for better cooperation between European
coordinators to ensure an objective and transparent slot allocation procedure
and the added value of implementing a mechanism aimed at increasing the
consistency between airport slots and flight plans.
The Commission's Communication is published on the following website:
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air_portal/airports
