ACI EUROPE has criticised the UK Government’s airport slot relief plans, warning the policy could weaken regional connectivity and disrupt passenger services.
ACI EUROPE has strongly criticised the UK Government’s decision to introduce airport slot usage alleviation measures for Summer and Winter 2026, warning the move could negatively impact regional connectivity and passenger services across the aviation network.
The organisation said the decision allows airlines greater flexibility to cancel services despite no confirmed evidence of widespread jet fuel shortages at airports in the United Kingdom or Europe.
Under current airport slot rules, airlines are generally required to use at least 80 per cent of their allocated slots to retain them for future seasons. Existing Justified Non-Use of Slots provisions already allow exemptions where verified operational disruption, including fuel shortages, directly affects services.
ACI EUROPE stated that the UK Government’s decision overrides guidance issued by the European Airport Coordinators Association, which had recommended that any exemptions continue to be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.
According to ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec, the policy risks giving airlines broad commercial flexibility to reduce services while transferring operational and economic impacts onto airports and passengers.
The organisation warned that regional airports could face the greatest disruption, particularly where routes feeding larger hub airports are already commercially fragile.
ACI EUROPE also criticised the timing of the legislation, noting that the waiver extends into the Winter 2026 season until March 2027 despite current passenger demand remaining strong across Europe’s aviation market.
The trade body argued that if returned slots are capable of being reallocated to other carriers, it demonstrates that demand for airport capacity continues to exist and that the policy is not being driven by operational necessity.
The UK Government has stated that the temporary alleviation aims to minimise disruption for passengers during ongoing industry challenges linked to fuel market pressures and wider geopolitical uncertainty.
However, ACI EUROPE maintains that targeted slot relief should only apply where documented fuel shortages directly affect airport operations.
The organisation added that airports, passengers and local communities should not bear the consequences of what it described as commercially motivated schedule reductions by airlines.
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