The European Commission believes larger airlines are deliberately stalling its slot allocation review in a bid to continue illegal practices for two more years. The transport directorate blames vested interests for the delays.
The EC is this week set to start accepting bids from management consultancies to undertake the second part of its review of the EU regulation covering slot allocation. Airlines fear the study will recommend a radical overhaul of the system, which currently allows airlines to retain historic rights to take-off and landing slots and busy airports. Alan Brown, the International Air Carrier Association's (IACA) director of aeropolitical and industry affairs, says maintaining the status quo is IACA's goal. It believes supranational bodies' involvement in the slot allocation system restricts competitiveness, specifically if environmental lobbies push to Commission to propose fewer slots for high-yield, low-density flights to reduce emissions.
The EC says the study is independent and any proposals will be preceded by a wide consultation of all interested parties. Any legislation would not be drafted until late 2002 and unlikely to be enforced until 2003. The EC calls protests from industry "a delaying tactic" and says that, in time, all the arguments will be transparent, making it "more difficult to defend uncompetitive practices". Brussels maintains that financially strong airline trading unwanted "grandfather" slots with others is illegal under EU competition law, because it is difficult for smaller carriers to know when slots are available and bid for them openly. The rights-trading law is likely to be made more explicit in future, raising the prospect of the EC taking carriers to court.
Source: Flight International
