IATA, which represents over 250 airlines, has requested global regulators for suspension of the rules in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
The
civil aviation ministry is likely to accept International
Air Transport Association's (IATA) demand for suspension of the
rules on allocation and use of airport slots.
IATA,
which represents over 250 airlines, has requested global regulators
for suspension of the rules in view of the coronavirus
outbreak resulting in widespread cancellation and suspension of
international flights.
"Around
43 per cent of all passengers depart from over 200 slot-coordinated
airports worldwide. At present, the rules for slot allocation mean
that airlines must operate at least 80 per cent of their allocated
slots under normal circumstances.
Failure
to comply with this means the airline loses its right to the slot the
next equivalent season. In exceptional circumstances, regulators can
relax this requirement,” IATA said in a statement today.
It
further said: "Suspending the requirement for the entire season
(to October 2020) will mean that airlines can respond to market
conditions with appropriate capacity levels, avoiding any need to run
empty services in order to maintain slots.
Aircraft
can be reallocated to other routes or parked; crew can have certainty
on their schedules," it added. “It is a force majeure kind of
situation. The situation is not in airline's control,” an official
said, indicating that the government may accept IATA’s demand.
Indian carriers have suspended flights to China and Hong Kong, while
international airlines have cut frequencies to India.
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