Draft Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements etc.) Regulations 2025 Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateChris Kane
Main Page: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)Department Debates - View all Chris Kane's debates with the Department for Transport
(3 days, 22 hours ago)
General CommitteesThank you. Let’s get down to business.
The regulations will be made under powers conferred by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, also known as the REUL Act. The regulations amend Council Regulation (EEC) No. 95/93, which sets out the rules for the allocation of airport slots. Slot allocation rules apply only in co-ordinated airports where capacity at the airport is unable to meet demand for slots. There are now nine airports covered by these rules, including London City, Gatwick, Heathrow and London Stansted, as well as Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Manchester.
The regulations will update the definition of a new entrant carrier—or airlines as they are known—for slot allocation purposes. That will allow air carriers with a small presence at a co-ordinated airport the opportunity to benefit from greater priority when it comes to the allocation of airport slots. The change aligns UK regulations with international guidelines and has the potential to provide more choice for consumers in terms of route, destinations and carriers.
In addition, the regulations will amend assimilated EU law to enable the UK to respond in the event of a pandemic, epidemic or other outbreak of disease, such as the covid-19 epidemic. It will remove the need for emergency legislation to provide alleviation from slot usage rules, as was the case during covid-19. That will protect consumers, the environment, and the aviation sector.
The draft statutory instrument will amend regulation 95/93 to change the definition of a new entrant carrier. The purpose of the new entrant rule is to stimulate competition. New entrant carriers are given priority in the allocation of slots, as the regulation requires that 50% of slots shall first be allocated to new entrants. Currently, an air carrier is a new entrant if it has fewer than five slots at an airport on a given day. Under these regulations, a new entrant is defined as a carrier that holds fewer than seven slots at airports. The update is designed to enhance the presence of new entrant carriers at slot co-ordinated airports.
The instrument will also build on previous regulations that provided carriers with slot alleviation during the covid-19 pandemic. It will introduce a permanent provision for carriers to obtain slot alleviation where there are Government-imposed measures relating to a pandemic, epidemic or other outbreak of disease. Consequently, it will simplify the process by which an event such as covid-19 can be managed for slot co-ordination purposes.
The provisions were subject to consultation with the aviation sector in 2023, and received strong support from across the industry. In the regulations, the Government have recognised the need to update the definition of a new entrant, and to provide additional reasons for allowing alleviation from slot usage rules. I commend them to the Committee.