Air services from Europe’s regional airports, which may have proved unsustainable in 2009 due to the unprecedented economic climate, will now be safeguarded for Summer 2010 thanks to yesterday’s adoption by the EU Council of the suspension of the ‘use it or lose it’ rule governing slots at EU airports. However, moves by regulators to amend the existing slot allocation regulation threaten to counteract any benefits gained.

The European Regions Airline Association (ERA), which also represents a number of regional airports, welcomes yesterday’s Council decision which will benefit regional airlines and airports throughout Europe.

“ERA fully supports this decision which is in the best interests of regional airlines and airports during these difficult times. It will also bring direct benefits for all the regions of Europe who rely on these important air links more than ever for their sustainability,” said ERA Director General, Mike Ambrose.

However, the Association is against the approach taken by regulators for the Winter 2009 period, which proposes that changes made for the Winter season must form part of a general revision of the current slot allocation regulation (EEC No 95/93) which regulators claim is needed to resolve present slot allocation inefficiencies and to ensure the optimal use of scarce capacity at congested airports.

“The existing process is extremely efficient when taking into account all the various factors and interests that have to be considered in slot allocation. Regrettably, the European Commission and European Parliament do not fully understand the process, and they have not defined either ‘inefficiencies’ or ‘optimal use’ because they know that any definitions would be torn to shreds by stakeholders,” Mike Ambrose claimed.