EU Council approves amendment for 'use-it-or-lose-it' slot rules for the entire summer 2020 season

EU Council announced (20-Mar-2020) plans to take urgent measures to temporarily suspend airport slot requirements obliging airlines to use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots in order to keep them in the following year. The Council approved a mandate to negotiate with the European Parliament to amend the 'use-it-or-lose-it' rule, waiving the rule retroactively from 01-Mar-2020 until 24-Oct-2020 to cover the entire summer 2020 season. It will also apply retroactively from 23-Jan-2020 to 29-Feb-2020 for services between the EU and China or Hong Kong. The amendment needs to be approved by both the Council and the European Parliament to pass. [more - original PR]