Why Airlines Don’t Want to Fly ‘Ghost Flights’ Into European Airports This Winter
Photo Credit: A passenger walks down a mirrored hallway in the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Flickr / Mark Fischer
Skift Take
In a pandemic, with few people flying, you might think it would be bad business to fly empty airplanes to squat on airport slots. But if that's what is required for airlines to keep access to key airports, they'll probably do it.
With little business travel expected this fall and winter, many airlines are betting the late October through March period will be among most devastating, financially, in their history. Yet, if required, they may fly empty airplanes into European airports just to retain landing rights that someday will have value.
They would prefer not to, though, which is why key stakeholders in Europe are asking the European Commission again to loosen restrictions on how often airlines must fly to an airport before they lose takeoff and landing rights. Several trade groups in Europe, including ACI EUROPE, which represents airports and Airlines for Europe, have agreed to a fr
