IATA Annual Review 2012

Governments are also creating
unnecessary confusion
over slot guidelines.
IATA’s Worldwide Slot
Guidelines (WSG) are the
accepted standard for the management
of airport slots and
must be globally implemented.
The European Commission
proposal for a new slot regulation
departs from international
standards.
IATA is working toward the
global adoption of a standard
slot management process
for the benefit of the whole
industry. The WSG provide the
guiding principles, policy, and
procedures of slot management
and are a proven process
for optimizing the utilization of
scarce airport capacity.
The
80/20
rule
Any departure from such an international
standard negatively
affects the airlines, the airports,
and ultimately the passenger.
The European Commission’s
proposal to move from the
usual 80-20 “use it or lose it”
slot rule to an 85-15 rule in the
mistaken belief that this will
improve airport slot utilization is
a case in point.
The 80-20 rule achieves utilization
rates at the most congested
airports in excess of 95%. If
the new proposals are adopted,
the result could be an increase
in empty flights to protect
slots, which as well as being
financially and environmentally
95%
utilization
At the most congested
airports the 80/20 rule
delivers utilization rates
of 95% or more.
28
damaging does not achieve the
objective of a more efficient use
of capacity
IATA will advocate against
these changes in 2012. They
are enormously detrimental to
the global process and could
provoke international retaliation.
IATA will also continue to
discuss how best to manage
congestion at New York–area
airports with the United States
Federal Aviation Administration.
The key to managing capacity
is building more airports
and runways.
Slot management issues are a
distraction from the main reason
for a lack of capacity in the
aviation system, which is that
there are not enough runways
and terminals to cope with
demand. IATA continually works
with businesses and trade
unions to promote the benefits
of responsible, sustainable
growth at constrained airports.
Examples include campaigning
for a third runway at London
Heathrow and at Hong Kong
International Airport. The best
use of existing infrastructure
is also vital. IATA has worked
closely with aviation stakeholders
in Germany to communicate
the economic consequences of
the decision to ban night flights
at Frankfurt airport.
161
airports
Fully 161 of the most
congested airports in
the world require official
coordination and apply
the 80/20 rule.