EU extends the suspension of airline slot rules

The European Union has decided to extend the deadline until October 24, 2020 the October 2020 the suspension of slot rules for landings and take-offs at airports. take-offs at airports. One of them obliged airlines to use a minimum of each schedule at a minimum of 80% to maintain it for the following season, which in the current state of the current state of alarm, it is impossible to maintain such usage.

Due to the current state of Europe with the wave of flight cancellations and restrictions of flight cancellations plus the restrictions imposed on airlines, most airlines have been operating virtually empty airlines have been operating virtually empty flights in order not to lose their allocated slots. to avoid losing their allocated slots.

Therefore, the member states have confirmed this Monday, March 30, the suspension of these requirements until next October 24, through an amendment to the legislation. However, the European Commission had proposed to eliminate these requirements only until June 30, 2020, but due to the booming However, the European Commission had proposed to remove these requirements only until June 30, 2020, but due to the measures imposed on airlines, this date has been extended and may still be further modified as events be modified depending on the course of events.

The cancellation of these requirements will also apply to flights between the European Union and China or Hong Kong from January 23 to 29. flights between the European Union and China or Hong Kong from January 23 to February 29, to include the period beginning on the day China closed its 29 February, to include the period beginning on the day China closed its first airport. first airport.

"It seems clear that this crisis will not be over soon. Eliminating the use-it-or-lose-it rule until October will help to mitigate the economic impact for airlines and give them certainty during the summer season," said Croatian Transport Minister season," said Croatian Transport Minister Oleg Butkovic, whose country is the Butkovic, whose country holds the Council's six-month presidency.

In addition, the council added that, should the circumstances of the pandemic the European Commission has the ability to extend the cancellation by means of a delegated act. cancellation by means of a delegated act. Brussels will assess the circumstances and report on any changes on 15 September 2020.