FAA suspends 80/20 slot rule, wants others to follow

The US Federal Aviation Administration has responded to a plea from airlines to temporarily waive minimum slot use requirements and wants other regulators to do the same. The requirements meant airlines could lose their slots at congested airports if they didn’t use them at least 80 percent of the time. The International Air Transport Association had urged regulators around the world to suspend the 80-20 rule during the coronavirus crisis to allow airlines to reduce frequencies to congested airports. READ: WHO delcares COVID-19 a pandemic. The issue has become even more urgent as airlines have been forced to slash capacity as demand has crashed. The FAA said it was waiving the 80-percent-use requirement through May 31 for US  and foreign airlines that have coronavirus-affected flights. “In doing so, the FAA expects that US  carriers will be accommodated with reciprocal relief by foreign authorities at airports in their countries, and may determine not to grant a waiver to a foreign carrier whose home jurisdiction does not reciprocate,’’ it said. “The agency will continue to monitor the Coronavirus’s effect on travel demand and may adjust this waiver as circumstances warrant. The FAA will inform airlines of any decision to extend the waiver period as soon as possible.” This waiver applies to  John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). At four other US airports where the agency has a formal schedule review and approval process—Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO)—the FAA will give credit to airlines for Coronavirus cancelations as though those flights had been operated. This will count towards future schedule reviews. About 43 percent of all passengers depart from 200 slot coordinated airports worldwide and there are precedents for slot rules being suspended. “The world is facing a huge challenge to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while enabling the global economy to continue functioning,’’ IATA director-general Alexandre de Juniac said in calling for the suspension. “Airlines are on the front line of that challenge and it’s essential that the regulatory community work with us to ensure airlines are able to operate in the most sustainable manner, both economically and environmentally, to alleviate the worst impacts of the crisis,” he said.