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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 657
RETAINED EU LAW REFORM
CIVIL AVIATION
The Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation
of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 17th June 2026
Coming into force - - 19th June 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 14(3)
of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (“the 2023 Act”)(1).
The Secretary of State is a relevant national authority for the purposes of section 14(3) of the
2023 Act(2).
The Secretary of State considers that the overall effect of the changes made by these Regulations
in relation to airports slot allocation does not increase the regulatory burden(3).
In accordance with paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 5 to the 2023 Act, a draft of this instrument has
been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Citation, commencement, extent and application
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage
Requirements) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 19th June 2026.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland. They apply to airports located
in England, Wales and Scotland.
Amendment of Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93
2.—(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 of 18 January 1993(4) on common rules for the
allocation of slots at United Kingdom airports is amended as follows.
(2) For paragraph 3 of Article 10 (slot pool) substitute—
(1) 2023 c. 28.
(2) The term “relevant national authority” is defined in section 21(1) of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.
(3) See section 14(5) of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.
(4) EUR 1993/95, amended by the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 (c. 12), section 12, and by S.I.
2019/276, 2021/100, 185 and 1200, 2022/368, 822 and 1107, 2023/325 and 1133 and 2025/158.Document Generated: 2026-06-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
“(3) Paragraphs 3A to 3C apply for purposes of the usage calculation.
(3A) Slots allocated to an air carrier before 31 January for the following summer
season, or before 31 August for the following winter season, but which are returned to
the coordinator for reallocation before those dates shall not be taken into account for the
purposes of the usage calculation.
(3B) Without prejudice to paragraph 3A, for the purposes of the usage calculation for
the summer season commencing on 29 March 2026 and ending on 24 October 2026—
(a) where paragraph (b) applies, the coordinator shall not take into account—
(i)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that summer
season which are returned to the coordinator before 10 July 2026; and
(ii)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that summer
season which have not been returned pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) and
which are returned to the coordinator before 11 October 2026;
(b) this paragraph applies where an air carrier—
(i)had the right to use the same slots as are being returned to the coordinator
pursuant to paragraph (a) during the summer season from 30 March 2025
to 25 October 2025, or received the slots being returned pursuant to
paragraph (a) following a transfer or exchange which took place pursuant
to Article 8a before 31 January 2026;
(ii)has notified passengers of the cancellation of the flights utilising slots being
returned pursuant to paragraph (a) at least 14 days before the date on which
the flights were due to depart; and
(iii)has not, at the time of returning the slots to the coordinator, given written
notification to the coordinator or the managing body of the airport that it
has permanently ceased, or will permanently cease, to operate air services
at that airport, or publicly issued a written statement to that effect.
(3C) Without prejudice to paragraph 3A, for the purposes of the usage calculation for
the winter season commencing on 25 October 2026 and ending on 27 March 2027—
(a) where paragraph (b) applies, the coordinator shall not take into account—
(i)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that winter season
which are returned to the coordinator before 15 November 2026; and
(ii)up to 5% of slots allocated to an air carrier at an airport for that winter season
which have not been returned pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) and which are
returned to the coordinator before 14 March 2027;
(b) this paragraph applies where an air carrier—
(i)had the right to use the same slots as are being returned to the coordinator
pursuant to paragraph (a) during the winter season from 26 October
2025 to 28 March 2026, or received the slots being returned pursuant to
paragraph (a) following a transfer or exchange which took place pursuant
to Article 8a before 31 August 2026;
(ii)has notified passengers of the cancellation of the flights utilising slots being
returned pursuant to paragraph (a) at least 14 days before the date on which
the flights were due to depart; and
(iii)has not, at the time of returning the slots to the coordinator, given written
notification to the coordinator or the managing body of the airport that it
has permanently ceased, or will permanently cease, to operate air services
at that airport, or publicly issued a written statement to that effect.”.
2Document Generated: 2026-06-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
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Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
17th June 2026 Department for Transport
3Document Generated: 2026-06-19
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations are made in exercise of the power in section 14(3) of the Retained EU Law
(Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28) (“the 2023 Act”). These Regulations amend Council
Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 of 18 January 1993 on common rules for the allocation of slots at United
Kingdom airports (“the Slot Regulation”) to make provision about the calculation of airport slot
usage for the 2026 summer and winter scheduling periods.
The Slot Regulation is secondary assimilated EU law within the meaning of section 12(2) of the
2023 Act. Article 10 of the Slot Regulation makes provision for how the utilisation of slots by air
carriers is calculated for the purpose of determining entitlement to slots in subsequent scheduling
periods. Under Articles 8(1) and 8(2) and 10(2), air carriers are generally required to operate a series
of slots for a minimum percentage of the relevant scheduling period in order to retain entitlement
to those slots, subject to certain exceptions.
Regulation 2 revokes paragraph 3 of Article 10 of the Slot Regulation and inserts new paragraphs
3 to 3C.
Paragraph 3A provides that slots allocated to an air carrier before 31 January for the following
summer season, or before 31 August for the following winter season are not to be taken into account
for the purposes of the usage calculation.
Paragraph 3B makes provision for the purposes of the usage calculation for the summer season
beginning in 2026 (29 March 2026 and ending on 24 October 2026). Where specified conditions
are met, the coordinator is required not to take into account up to 10% of slots allocated to an air
carrier at an airport for that season which are returned to the coordinator. This consists of up to
5% of slots returned before 10 July 2026, and a further 5% returned before 11 October 2026. The
conditions relate to historic entitlement to the slots (or entitlement following a transfer or exchange
under Article 8a), advance notification to passengers of flight cancellations, and confirmation that
the air carrier has not permanently ceased, and does not intend permanently to cease, operations at
the airport.
Paragraph 3C makes corresponding provision for the purposes of the usage calculation for the
winter season beginning in 2026 (25 October 2026 and ending on 27 March 2027). Where the same
conditions are met, the coordinator is required not to take into account up to 10% of slots allocated
to an air carrier at an airport for that season which are returned to the coordinator. This consists of up
to 5% of slots returned before 15 November 2026, and a further 5% returned before 14 March 2027.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on
the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum has been published
alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.
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