Update of common rules for the allocation of slots at European Union airports

The transport companies are the trade and employers’ association for the Swedish transport industry, including the motor and petroleum sectors. Our seven federations have over 9 550 member companies together with around 202 800 employees. This makes the transport companies the main point of contact for companies in the transport industry in Sweden.

Filed in Swedish · English published by the European Commission

Emirates welcomes the initiative of the EU Commission to prolong slot relief beyond northern summer 2022. As we progress with our network ramp up plans, we still find that the continued COVID-19 sanitary uncertainty, divergent recovery and vaccination rates across different geographic markets and continued restrictions in many regions necessitate the prolongation of the slot relief measures beyond norther summer…

A4E welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Commission’s planned initiative to extend slot relief measures and address the impact of COVID-19 developments and the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the use of airport capacity in the EU. Please find our comments attached.

Wizz Air supports the intention to return to the 80/20 rule in the winter season 2022 for fair competition and appropriate operational planning for airlines and the whole ecosystem, especially airports. For Wizz Air, S22 is already highly above 2019 capacity, Q2-Q3 2022 are projected between 132-145% on average.

It-for-55 calls for a reduction in air traffic. It should be borne in mind that, although alternative fuels can reduce CO2 emissions, other greenhouse gas emissions, which account for approximately 2/3 of the total climate-effective emissions, are not. We therefore suggest that rules be put in place not to allocate unused slots elsewhere, but rather to collect unused slots.

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The air freight sector continues to be highly impacted by consequences of national restrictions related to COVID-19 and the aggressive invasion of Russia into Ukraine. CLECAT, the European Associations of freight forwarders, logistics service providers and customs agents, therefore welcomes the opportunity to provide comments in response to the European Commission’s initiative to extend the slot relief rules in view…

Airlines for America (A4A), on behalf of its members, welcomes the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the need to prolong slot relief beyond summer season 2022. The data suggests that while domestic travel is rebounding in the United States and other domestic markets, international travel is recovering at a slower pace and remains far below pre-pandemic levels.

LOT Polish Airlines were very pleased to see the publication of Call for Evidence regarding an update of the slot relief measures beyond the current IATA Summer 2022 Season. We find three major aspects driving uncertainty in the sector and which support the argument for further revision of the standard slot-related policies – these are: continued uncertainty and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic…

The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport warmly welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to design the EU Slot Regulation in a crisis-proof manner in the light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

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Etihad Airways welcome the initiative of the Commission to prolong the slot relief measures beyond S22. While the aviation sector is in the process of recovering from the crisis caused by COVID-19 full recovery is not expected before 2024 (source: IATA).

Airports welcome the opportunity to provide comments on the European Commission’s planned update of the Slot Regulation to maintain relief measures, as appropriate, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ADV has supported the slot waiver instrument and its application in principle. This ensures basic connectivity, and existing flight plans remain intact during the recovery phase.

The Polish Civil Aviation Authority thanks the Commission for the possibility to submit our statement on the need to introduce further measures to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and other events on the aviation market. The CAA notes that the market remains unstable and air carriers, airports and other aviation companies are under growing economic strain.

BDF represents the interests of the German airlines Lufthansa, Eurowings, Condor and TUIfly which stand for 50% of air passenger traffic in Germany. BDF and its member companies appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Commissions intention to amend the EU Slot Regulation and prolong slot relief beyond summer 2022. Please find our comments attached.

The Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) considers that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, it is necessary to make provision for the period after 29 October 2022.

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Please find attached the join position of the members of Airlines International representation in Europe (AIRE). We do hope that a common understanding between the Commission and the industry can be found for the sake of the recovering European aviation and its customers. Do let us know if you have any further questions.

ANA, All Nippon Airways an airline based in Japan, appreciates this opportunity to submit our comments on this rule making. We would like to express that, 1. ANA supports the IATA comments which will be submitted by IATA. 2. ANA would like to emphasize that the COVID-19 shows different pace of recovery globally, hence any issues related to certain global area should be considered when setting any slot rules. 3.

Please find attached the position of the Lufthansa Group regarding the European Slot Relief Rules. The Lufthansa Group welcomes the opportunity to provide input for an update of Council Regulation No. 95/93 (EU Slot Regulation). An updated EU Slot Regulation (e.g.

KEY POINTS OF THE ITALIAN PROPOSAL ON UPDATING/MODIFYING THE SLOT REGULATION FOR THE UPCOMING 2022/23 WINTER SEASON The Italian Civil Aviation Authority would like to thank the Commission for this opportunity to make comments on the update, and to the extension of the duration of the slot rules due to the covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to comment on the call for evidence to update the slot regulation due to the covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Finnair welcomes opportunity to comment commission’s plans for extended slot relief measures and address the impact of COVID-19 developments and the Russian invasion in Ukraine to Finnair’s network. Finnair supports the extension of slot relief measures for upcoming scheduling seasons due to the unknown duration of airspace closure in Russia and the uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic development.

The Danish CAA supports the Commission’s initiative to amend the slot regulation to facilitate a necessary buffer against uncertainties in relation to COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is vital that airlines avoid being forced to operate unnecessary flights that are harmful for both the environment and airlines.

Airports welcome the opportunity to provide comments on the European Commission’s planned update of the Slot Regulation so as to maintain relief measures, as appropriate, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ACI EUROPE has consistently, over the period of the COVID-19 crisis, supported a progressive reinstatement of airport slot usage requirements, as the market stabilizes and recovers.

The COVID-19 slot relief measures will end on 29 October 2022. While air traffic levels have recovered substantially since the start of the pandemic and the air traffic forecasts indicate that the return to the usual 80% use rate is possible as of the start of the winter 2022/2023 scheduling season, we believe that there are still unpredictable developments with regards to new variants and the impact of the Russian…

Response of EUACA to call for evidence for Commission initiative “Update of common rules for the allocation of slots at European Union airports” (Ref. Ares(2022)3229544 - 26/04/20) EUACA appreciates the chance to comment on the call for evidence for the Commission initiative “Update of common rules for the allocation of slots at European airports”.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel restrictions as well as the war in Ukraine continue to impact aviation. Therefore the application of a reduced minimum use rate for W22 and the retainment of specific JNUS provisions are justified In favour of continued slot relief measures beyond summer season 2022., but with a gradual return to 80/20. A minimum use rate of 70% would to be appropriate for W22.

The Swedish Transport Agency considers that there is a need to give the Commission the opportunity to reduce, if necessary, by adopting delegated acts, the limit on the proportion of slots that an airline needs to use in order to keep these next traffic periods.

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