DG MOVE workshop on the Slots Regulation review

28 April 2023: ERA recently attended a workshop organised by DG MOVE focussed on the Slots Impact Assessment.

Steer, the consultant in charge of mapping the Impact Assessment, gave an overview of the previous studies related to the revision of the Slot regulation (including the 2020 Fact-finding Study and the study on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation market) and presented the feedback received from the stakeholders on the policy measures during the consultation process. See attached Steer's presentation.

During the workshop, DG MOVE also presented a set of three policy options and measures included in all the policy options under assessment (see slides 57-60). Among the policy measures on the table: an increase of the slot usage rule (from 85 per cent to 90 per cent), increase of the series length, earlier slot return and slot mobility (secondary trading and auctioning), introduction of ‘green slots’ as well as alignment with the WASG and JNUS provisions permanent.

DG MOVE stressed that the revision of the Slot regulation will depend on the decision of Transport Commissioner Valean and the College of Commissioners, more generally. The following planning was given to the stakeholders:

• Impact Assessment to be presented in June 2023
• Proposal to be presented to the College of Commissioners during summer 2023
• Potential adoption after summer 2023

On 24 April, ERA sent a feedback note to DG MOVE to stress its concerns on the combination of the policy options (see attached). ERA highlighted the disconnect between the consultant’s findings from the targeted stakeholder consultation process and the policy options presented, as well as the lack of impact assessment carried out by the Commission on the consequences of the proposed set of policy options for all stakeholders.