Coronavirus: here’s why companies keep flying … empty planes

Even if the planes are half empty, the companies continue to fly them so as not to lose their “slot”, a time slot that they could lose if it were unoccupied. In view of the exceptional situation, the European Commission has decided to soften this regulation.

Some passengers are amused that some flights look like ghost flights. Others wonder. Despite the drop in bookings, airlines fly almost empty planes for only one reason: to keep their take-off and landing slots. “It’s a time slot, or slot. When there is congestion at an airport, we have to regulate the use of flights”, explains André Clodong, aeronautical consultant.

To keep these slots open throughout the seasons, airlines must comply with rules set by Europe. “To keep these slots, they must be used almost the majority of the time, 85% of the time, because there can be mechanical or meteorological incidents”, adds the consultant.

To help the aviation sector and avoid empty flights, the European Commission will propose relaxing the rules. Companies will be able to keep these slots more easily even if the flight has not been carried out. “This is a temporary measure and this temporary measure helps both our industry and our environment. It will alleviate the pressure on the aeronautical industry and in particular on small airlines. But it will also lower emissions of greenhouse gases by preventing ghost theft “, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

The European Union has already used this kind of derogation during the SRARS epidemic in 2003 or after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

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