WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4188/97 by Eolo PARODI , Guido VICECONTE to the Commission. Allocation of slots at Community airports
Date: 1998-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, PARODI, VICECONTE
Subjects: air traffic, air transport, airport, common transport policy, free competition, traffic control, transport planning, transport regulations, work schedule

22. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 196/95

Answer

(7 April 1998)

The Presidency intends to make every effort, with the support of the Commission and taking account of the views
of the European Parliament, to achieve the necessary conditions in the Council so that a decision on this issue
may be taken at the earliest opportunity.

(98/C 196/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4188/97

by Eolo Parodi (UPE) and Guido Viceconte (UPE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Allocation of slots at Community airports

At  some  EU  airports  ›  in  particular  those  with  the  worst  traffic  congestion  ›  a  lack  of  available  slots  is
preventing  some  carriers  from  operating  in  accordance  with  the  rules  designed  to  ensure  healthy,  balanced
competition.

Is the Commission aware of any instances of slot trading?

How  does  it  intend  to  ensure  that  slots  are  allocated  on  the  basis  of  transparent  criteria  in  accordance  with
Community competition law?

What  means  does  it  have  at  its  disposal  to  ensure  that  slots  are  made  available  and  allocated  to  the  airlines
applying for them?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 1998)

The  Commission  is  very  concerned  by  the  lack  of  available  slots  at  very  congested  Community  airports.
Regulation  (EEC)  No  95/93  of  18  January  1993  on  common  rules  for  the  allocation  of  slots  at  Community
airports (1) establishes the rules to be followed by airport co-ordinators in order to ensure a neutral, transparent
and non-discriminatory allocation of slots.

The Commission is monitoring the proper application of the existing Regulation to ensure, in particular, that new
entrants benefit from access to congested airports to the extent provided in the Regulation. The Commission has
recently become aware of certain practices involving transactions between airlines which raise questions as to
their compatibility with the Regulation and has asked for further information from the Member States concerned.
The Commission will not hesitate to take action, when justified, in order to ensure a proper enforcement of the
Regulation.

The Commission also recognises, however, that the existing Regulation is not a sufficient instrument to respond
effectively to the needs of all air carriers. Whilst it ensures fair distribution of the slots which become available, it
does  not  create  new  possibilities  for  access  to  the  airports.  Moreover,  in  many  cases,  an  increase  in  airport
capacity will either not be sufficient to resolve the congestion problem, or simply will not happen.

The Commission is therefore preparing a proposal to amend the existing Regulation in order to optimise the use
of slots and giving particular consideration to the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a fair mechanism
in order to facilitate slot movements. Various means of reinforcing the position of new entrants and making the
existing Regulation more easily enforceable are also being considered.

The Commission proposal will attempt to offer a balanced package of measures to remedy the situation described
by  the  Honourable  Members.  Of  course,  in  cases  where  dominant  carriers  at  congested  airports  abuse  their
position, the competition rules of the EC Treaty can always be used as a basis for action.

(1)  OJ L 14, 22.1.1993.