The aviation industry is an ecosystem made of many interdependent stakeholders with differing strategies and competing interests. One dependency common to many stakeholders is the utilisation of infrastructure – particularly airport infrastructure.
To balance demand and capacity at a strategic level, the concept of airport slots is often used together with the application of a slot allocation process to assist in the allocation of access in a fair and transparent manner. These processes have not been designed to accommodate periods of long‑duration disruption to aviation, as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The international nature of aviation, the differing extents of impact the pandemic has had on different geographies and the interdependencies of airline operations to the slot allocation processes in multiple countries brings new challenges.
The Aviation Studies Institute (ASI) has commissioned the consulting arm of IATA to assess the perspectives of regional stakeholders on the slot allocation processes in Southeast Asia amidst aviation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This white paper is intended to support regional authorities, airport operators and airlines in their endeavours to recover from the impact of the pandemic in a sustainable and fair manner. This may also support developers of slot guidance material when they begin to discuss advice for dealing with future disruptive events.
This work complements the ASI’s ongoing research into the optimisation of airport slot allocation for optimal airport and airspace capacities, flight delays, passenger connectivity and airline fuel efficiency.
Passenger Booking Lead Times in Asia Pacific
Duration between booking and travel
Key Recommendations
- Improved timing of communication and consultation of restrictions at airports or onboard aircraft, is vital across the Southeast Asia region to ensure government restrictions are most effectively implemented and passenger disruption avoided.
- Responsible authorities should remove planning flexibility and relief measures cautiously and in a manner that supports the sustainability of flights, provides passengers with the certainty of regular and reliable services, and regulators with the connectivity countries rely upon.
- Southeast Asia opinion supports consistent and appropriate levels of slot use relief regionally and beyond.
- Better interaction between Worldwide, European and Asia Pacific Airport Coordinator Groups is encouraged to benefit the implementation of interregional measures and to help avoid bilateral frustrations.
- Improved timing of communication and consultation of restrictions at airports or onboard aircraft, is vital across the Southeast Asia region to ensure government restrictions are most effectively implemented and passenger disruption avoided.
- Responsible authorities should remove planning flexibility and relief measures cautiously and in a manner that supports the sustainability of flights, provides passengers with the certainty of regular and reliable services, and regulators with the connectivity countries rely upon.
- Southeast Asia opinion supports consistent and appropriate levels of slot use relief regionally and beyond.
- Better interaction between Worldwide, European and Asia Pacific Airport Coordinator Groups is encouraged to benefit the implementation of interregional measures and to help avoid bilateral frustrations.
If you experience issues downloading the white paper, please let us know and we will be happy to forward a copy to you instead. Our contact details can be found here: Contact Us.
If you experience issues downloading the white paper, please let us know and we will be happy to forward a copy to you instead.
Our contact details can be found here: Contact Us.