Ghost flights to keep slots

[sn26567]

Many media are mentioning that airlines are operating empty flights to some airports in order to keep expensive slots. There is indeed a European regulation that says that an airline must operate at least 80% of its flights at given airports to keep the slots at such airports.

IATA and A4E have been pressing the European Union to temporarily suspend that regulation during the coronavirus crisis. Until now, the European Commission has staunchly refused to do so, saying that it needs more data.

However, I have no examples of ghost flights operated solely to keep slots. Do some of our readers know of any such examples? If there are indeed ghost flights, it would be a terrible waste of money and unnecessary damage to the environment. I could not understand the position of the EU, which promotes carbon neutrality by 2050 and at the same time allowing ghost flights.

[sn26567]

BREAKING

[sn26567]

BREAKING: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will temporarily drop rules which say airlines must operate 80% of scheduled services to keep landing slots at airports.

https://www.aviation24.be/organisations ... t-flights/

I am still looking for examples of such ghost flights actually operated.

[cathay belgium]

Hi,

I saw flightradar scenes with flights from Gatwick to Heathrow.. for slotkeeping...
Facebook groups...

CXB

[luchtzak]

BREAKING: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will temporarily drop rules which say airlines must operate 80% of scheduled services to keep landing slots at airports.

I am still looking for examples of such ghost flights actually operated.

Two examples, but there are more examples on social media.

https://www.aviation24.be/organisations ... t-flights/

[luchtzak]

[sn26567]

I am still looking for examples of such ghost flights actually operated.

Two examples, but there are more examples on social media.

https://www.aviation24.be/organisations ... t-flights/

I misunderstood the concept of ghost flights. I thought airlines were operating EMPTY flights to keep slots. In fact, they are just keeping flights with low occupancy that they would have cancelled if the Airport Slots rule didn't exist.