Heathrow planes to 'fly empty' to keep slots

rwendland Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31:24 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I read that airlines, especially BMI, will fly near empty planes in the expected slump this autumn to keep their valuable Heathrow slots. This is so ridiculous - the airport slot rights situation needs rationalisation before a third Heathrow runway can be justified.



Apparently government (EU?) "use-it-or-lose-it" rules mean airlines must use 80% of their scheduled slots, or forfeit them. Through inherited rights BMI owns 11% of the Heathrow take-off slots, second to British Airways. 97% of the runway slots go to airlines with 'grandfather rights'.

I recall a third runway lobbyist telling us on TV that much fuel is wasted by airplanes flying holding patterns waiting for a Heathrow landing slot - and that the green solution is a third runway. And BAA say Heathrow is "jam-packed". Well, if many of the flights have few passengers, I can see a rather easier and much greener solution.

For more background info, here is a Deloitte report on slot valuation.

Update: Gordon Brown has picked up on this saying it is "unacceptable" if true - investigation under way. 



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Heathrow planes to 'fly empty' to keep slots | 2 comments (2 topical)

Re: Heathrow planes to 'fly empty' to keep slots (#1)

by john frost on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 01:33:09 PM GMT

Not exactly blue sky thinking is it? They could build another skyport plaza out in the Lincolnshire or East Anglian hinterland much more effectively but of course "proof of necessity" would be required rather than much easier expansion of existing overcrowded Heathrow resource which requires no proof or so they thought unti the "ghostriders in the sky came along" 


Re: Heathrow planes to 'fly empty' to keep slots (#2)

by Prbo on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 01:39:56 PM GMT

Ostensibly, changing the rules sounds sensible, but I'm not so sure.  There's much to be lauded in a 'use it or lose it' policy, as it should incentivise maximum use of a limited commodity.  In the current context of oil prices and cost of living, it's not in BMI's long-term interests to fly empty flights.  However, if it appears to be a long-term problem which persists, maybe something should be changed.


Heathrow planes to 'fly empty' to keep slots | 2 comments (2 topical)