Airline associations around the world have called for governments to ensure the global alignment of airport slot regulations to safeguard the consistent, fair, and transparent allocation of slots under the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG). The WASG has ensured decades of stability and consistency in the application of slot management, benefitting consumers from a consistent growth in reliable schedules and expansion to new markets, while airlines and airports have seen an increase in the utilisation of scarce airport capacity.
Fragmentation of slot regulation risks disruption to airline schedules and imperils the advances in global connectivity, efficiency, competition, and choice. With the number of slot-regulated airports worldwide growing steadily, it is vital that governments recognise the importance of the harmonisation of slot regulations in line with the WASG. The Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASG) is a body of slot experts from airlines, airports, and slot coordinators who oversee expert revisions to the WASG.
Governments should align their slot rules with the WASG to benefit from better air connectivity, efficiency, and consumer choice, said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. The 152nd Slot Conference in Dublin, Ireland attracts over 1,000 delegates, with representatives of more than 200 slot-coordinated airports and 215 individual airlines.
The goal of the conference is for airlines to obtain the slots that will give them the best possible schedule to offer their customers at coordinated airports. The next conference will take place in Dubai, UAE, on 14-17 November 2023.