Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 19th June 2026.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland. They apply to airports located in England, Wales and Scotland.

Amendment of Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93

2.—(1) of 18 January 1993( Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/934) on common rules for the allocation of slots at United Kingdom airports is amended as follows.

(2) For paragraph 3 of Article 10 (slot pool) substitute—

“3. Paragraphs 3A to 3C apply for purposes of the usage calculation.

3A. Slots allocated to an air carrier before 31 January for the following summer season, or before 31 August for the following winter season, but which are returned to the coordinator for reallocation before those dates shall not be taken into account for the purposes of the usage calculation.

3B. Without prejudice to paragraph 3A, for the purposes of the usage calculation for the summer season commencing on 29 March 2026 and ending on 24 October 2026—

(a)where paragraph (b) applies, the coordinator shall not take into account—

(i)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that summer season which are returned to the coordinator before 10 July 2026; and

(ii)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that summer season which have not been returned pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) and which are returned to the coordinator before 11 October 2026;

(b)this paragraph applies where an air carrier—

(i)had the right to use the same slots as are being returned to the coordinator pursuant to paragraph (a) during the summer season from 30 March 2025 to 25 October 2025, or received the slots being returned pursuant to paragraph (a) following a transfer or exchange which took place pursuant to Article 8a before 31 January 2026;

(ii)has notified passengers of the cancellation of the flights utilising slots being returned pursuant to paragraph (a) at least 14 days before the date on which the flights were due to depart; and

(iii)has not, at the time of returning the slots to the coordinator, given written notification to the coordinator or the managing body of the airport that it has permanently ceased, or will permanently cease, to operate air services at that airport, or publicly issued a written statement to that effect.

3C. Without prejudice to paragraph 3A, for the purposes of the usage calculation for the winter season commencing on 25 October 2026 and ending on 27 March 2027—

(a)where paragraph (b) applies, the coordinator shall not take into account—

(i)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that winter season which are returned to the coordinator before 15 November 2026; and

(ii)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that winter season which have not been returned pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) and which are returned to the coordinator before 14 March 2027;

(b)this paragraph applies where an air carrier—

(i)had the right to use the same slots as are being returned to the coordinator pursuant to paragraph (a) during the winter season from 26 October 2025 to 28 March 2026, or received the slots being returned pursuant to paragraph (a) following a transfer or exchange which took place pursuant to Article 8a before 31 August 2026;

(ii)has notified passengers of the cancellation of the flights utilising slots being returned pursuant to paragraph (a) at least 14 days before the date on which the flights were due to depart; and

(iii)has not, at the time of returning the slots to the coordinator, given written notification to the coordinator or the managing body of the airport that it has permanently ceased, or will permanently cease, to operate air services at that airport, or publicly issued a written statement to that effect.”.