In the airline world, slots doesn’t mean playing the slot machines in Las Vegas. Slots are how big airports divide up available windows for takeoffs and landings among airlines. Airlines want regulators to cut them some slack on meeting their flight quotas during COVID, but competitors say they want an opportunity to fill the void.
International travel is Qantas Airways’ bread-and-butter business, but it has been mostly wiped out by the coronavirus crisis. Now that underutilized side of the company is getting folded into the domestic unit to save money.
The increase in freighter flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport during the first half of the year was not enough to offset the dramatic drop in cargo transported by passenger planes.
It’s a turbulent period in Europe for the aviation industry. Regional travel is reopening in the EU, but the UK has tightened travel restrictions and airlines are struggling to stay in business without government assistance.
Airlines and airports have a symbiotic relationship, but there is tension over airlines’ interest in waiving airport charges and taxes during the pandemic recession.
