New slot usage monitoring rule comes into effect for domestic and international flights

In view of the resumption of airline industry operations, the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) decided to apply, through Resolution No. 654, dated January 12, 2022, the penalty waiver for slot cancellations (arrival and departure times at coordinated airports) in the calculation of the index for obtaining historic rights by airlines in a differentiated manner between domestic and international flights. In addition, the regularity target was reduced to 70% in all coordinated airports for the Summer 2022 (S22) season, which runs from March 27 to October 29 this year.

For international flights, a market still heavily impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the penalty rebate will continue to be applied for slot cancellations, provided that these departure and arrival times come from slot histories and are returned at least four weeks in advance of the air operation.

For domestic flights, the penalty waiver for slot cancellations may still be applied, but only for the entire series of slots from historics and returned no later than seven days after the Baseline Disclosure (BDR). The airline that makes use of this allowance may only make a new request for these cancelled slots after 30 days from the date of return, subject to airport infrastructure availability assessment.

The slot allocation rule, which was approved on January 11 may eventually undergo new changes, at the discretion of ANAC’s Board of Directors, if the impacts of the pandemic on the airline industry intensify.

ANAC Communications Office