Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Strange.

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.

I was speaking to a US colleague yesterday and he said that the airport traffic controls for the non-international airports had almost totally gone home and people were self declaring, including 2/4 engine international aircraft. I found this quite amazing considering he lives in Vegas. I guess Vegas is seeing a massive drop in attendance, it must look odd as a ghost town with all the lights perhaps like Blade Runner.

Daft isn't it , why is this going on ? You only have to lookat UK airports arrivals and departures to see there is no lock down there which makes a farce of us sitting here getting very fed up with the increase in infection rate and more deaths !

Most of the flights are cargo or passenger planes with no passengers but full cargo holds - price of air freight has soared(sic.)which makes it economical to do this - also means pilots and planes retain their license to fly - pilots must do at least 3 take offs and landings every 90 days to retain their license. Airlines need to have a cohort of licensed pilots to fly when the restrictions are over.

Are you sure when the flight numbers are passenger flights and aren't specific freight planes ?

Have a look at the Plane Finder App on you tablet or mobile. It’s one of the few apps I have paid for but well worth it. It give details of most aircraft in the air at any time, exc military.

I looked at the data for my nearest airport (Tampa TPA) and found it frightening. When I look at all the flights for the USA, I'm dumbfounded. The free COVID-19 delivery service is fully operational on this side of the pond.

Here in Colorado Denver airport is a United hub and we have a number of friends who are pilots on both domestic and international passenger flights. Domestically they are flying mostly empty planes from the passenger perspective but full of cargo, internationally they are the same but need to keep the flights otherwise they could lose their slots at foreign airports unless the rules change. However they also say that the number of flights have been dramatically reduced, I was shown a picture of Denver Airport with what looked like around 50 aircraft parked on the apron with their engines covered.

Very quite over Italy and Spain tonight.