Easyjet critical of allowing airlines to keep unused slots

www.easyjet.com

EasyJet is opposed to a plan that would allow legacy carriers in Europe to hold on to take off and landing slots that they don’t use.

The low-cost carrier has contacted all 27 European commissioners in writing, urging them to avoid the “narrow-minded protectionism” sought by a few legacy airlines.

Easyjet maintains that some of Europe’s network airlines, led by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), are requesting that the European Commission (EC) consider suspending rules governing the usage of slots at major airports in the region.

This suspension of the rules would prevent other European carriers from being able to use scarce slots – which otherwise would be freed-up by service cutbacks expected over the year.

It has been revealed that the EC is preparing a proposal for suspending the slot allocation rules, according to easyJet.

Last week, the AEA asked the EU to allow its member airlines to maintain their slots for one year, even if they are not used.

Easyjet has stressed that under the EU ‘use it or lose it’ rule, carriers must use their slots 80 per cent of the time or relinquish them so that they can be used by other carriers.

Andy Harrison, easyJet’s chief executive, said: “This is not about protecting the industry; it’s about propping-up a few poorly-run, inefficient network airlines with out-dated business models that cannot adapt to the demands of modern consumers.”

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www.easyjet.com