Europe's slot allocation system has been thrown into confusion after a UK High Court ruling which, while not specifically permitting slot sales, seems to have given the all-clear to exchanges "where money changes hands".
Delivering a decision on a case concerning the transfer of slots at London Heathrow from KLM uk - formerly Air UK - to British Airways, the court accepted that the slots transferred "were a more coherent, useful and valuable batch than the ones - received in return", and that "it is at least highly probable that Air UK also received a money payment from BA in order to reflect this".
However, the Justice Maurice Kay decided the deal involved a "free exchange" of slots, as required by European Union law, and rejected a claim that "where money changes hands, there is a sale rather than an exchange of slots".
Source: Flight International
