by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Mon April 8, 2024
Heathrow Airport, the biggest airport serving London, England and a major international hub, is asking the British government to continue its current airport slot usage guidelines and regulations, something that, if changed, could shake up the airport’s international connectivity.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an airport slot is a permission by a slot coordinator for a plane to use the facilities of a Level 3 airport, including a runway. All planes operating in and out of an airport need to have an airport slot.
The slot coordinators operate independently of the airport’s control. The Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG) states that airport slots are necessary when demand for travel grows above the airport’s official capacity.
For Heathrow, slot coordination is done by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) and goes by the 80:20 ratio rule. The rule, which is under review by the government and could be changed, requires airlines to operate from a slot at least 80 percent of the time to keep it, which ensures no wasting of limited space.
The airport is also requesting that the government clarify its “Justified Non-Use of Slots” regulation, which provides exceptions to the 80:20 rule for things like extreme weather or airspace closure.
“Providing choice and stability for our passengers are our key priorities, and by retaining the 80:20 slot ratio and clarifying ‘Justified Non-Use of Slots’ regulation, these priorities can be delivered,” said Aviation Director at Heathrow, Alyson Playford. “We urge the Government to consider our asks, and not to diverge too heavily from the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines and international best practice.”
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