According to a blog Nick Careen – IATA Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security, airlines are facing significant operational disruption as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact global flight schedules.
Under normal conditions, airport slots are governed by the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG), including the “80-20 rule” requiring airlines to use slots at least 80% of the time to retain them. However, current realities, including airspace closures, rerouting, and fuel shortages, have made it impossible for many carriers to operate as planned.
Careen highlights the need for regulators to apply the Justified Non-Use of Slots (JNUS) provision, which allows slot usage requirements to be temporarily suspended during extraordinary events. IATA is advocating for a rolling six-week application of JNUS to provide airlines with the certainty needed to stabilise operations.
Beyond immediate relief, this flexibility would help avoid unnecessary flights, conserve fuel, maintain efficient use of airport capacity, and protect long-term network integrity. With recovery expected to take months rather than days, JNUS is positioned as a critical mechanism to safeguard connectivity during the crisis.
Read the full article for detailed insight into how slot flexibility is being applied and why it is essential for global aviation recovery – here: https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/slot-relief-during-the-iran-crisis-why-flexibility-matters-now/
You might also be interested in: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/ops-infra/slots/jnus/
