Even if I had the time at the moment, I had this current news in my newspaper, the Frankfurter Allgemeine, translated by deepl.com. So I had remembered correctly what I had read sometime two weeks ago. Even if it is a good decision in the end, but does something like this have to take so long in these times?
The EU Parliament has given the green light for the suspension of the slot rules for airlines. With 686 votes in favour, none against and two abstentions, MEPs on Thursday approved the special rules proposed by the EU Commission in a fast-track procedure. It is intended to prevent airlines from flying without passengers because of the Corona crisis, in order not to lose their take-off and landing rights - so-called slots. Airlines must actually use 80% of the slots allocated to them at large commercial airports during a flight schedule in order to preserve their right to them in next year's flight schedule period. However, numerous airlines have recently cancelled flights massively due to the coronavirus. Business and environmental associations therefore warned against mass "ghost flights" without passengers. According to the regulation now finally adopted, airlines will not lose their previous take-off and landing rights - regardless of whether the plane takes off or not. The exemption is valid until October inclusive. The corona pandemic has enormous effects on air traffic. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recorded a 40 to 60 percent year-on-year decline in bookings for the months of March to June inclusive, depending on route length. European airports are expecting passenger volumes to fall by 67 million in the first quarter of 2020.
