• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  News  >  U.S. Extends Slot Waiver Protection For Legacy Carriers
News

U.S. Extends Slot Waiver Protection For Legacy Carriers

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 26, 2022March 26, 2022 5 Comments

Bad news if you are a consumer: the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has extended its “use it or lose it” slot requirements waiver into autumn 2022, giving airlines much more flexibility in their spring and summer international schedules. These slot waivers will result in higher airfare.

International Slot Waiver Protection Continues Through Summer 2022 At Major U.S. Airports

Big airlines will keep their valuable international takeoff and landing slots thanks to the extension of a pandemic-era weaver from the FAA. Traditionally, airlines were required to use 80% of their takeoff and landing slots at slot-controlled airlines or lose them. Those airports included:

  • New York Kennedy (JFK)
  • New York LaGuardia (LGA)
  • Washington National – Reagan (DCA)

But this was waived during the pandemic, bowing to outcry from airlines that it would be forced to operate costly “ghost” flights in order to maintain their slots that would not have any passengers.

Since March 2020, the slot waivers have been extended four times.

The latest move from the FAA impacts international flights only and was courted not only by U.S. legacy carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, but also by Lufthansa and British Airways. Practically, carriers can cut back schedules from these airports without risking losing their slots through October 29, 2022.

The move also relaxes flight oversight in:

  • Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Newark (EWR)
  • San Francisco (SFO)

Those airports are not slot controlled, but the FAA exercises a formal schedule review process, which will now be relaxed.

The FAA noted:

“Based on global vaccination rates, changing infection rates and the threat of new virus strains, continued unpredictability of travel restrictions, and the disparity between demand for domestic air travel and demand for international air travel, extending the current limited, conditional waiver for international operations by all carriers, is reasonable.”

The move was not supported by those without slots or who desire more slots, like budget carriers Frontier and Spirit. Those carriers, which also hope to merge, would like to increase flights and argue that protecting incumbent carriers is bad for consumers.

They are right, to a degree. This waiver frees airlines to cut back schedules, which will push already-high airfare even higher. I’ve seen nothing but booming transatlantic demand and fear this move will result in further price hikes and potential schedule reductions. Service to Asia is limited from New York JFK and non-existent from LaGuardia or Reagan, so this is not an issue of dealing with the lack of demand for Asian traffic.

CONCLUSION

The latest FAA slot waiver hands more flexibility to incumbent carriers. Expect higher airfare even if airlines end up operating their full schedules because they now have the option of consolidating flights if their higher airfare leaves too many open seats.

image: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Previous Article United Airlines Scraps Berlin, Prague Routes
Next Article Review: Air France A319 Business Class

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • US Airlines Stimulus Bill

    United Airlines Will Cut Newark Flights In July

    June 23, 2022
  • RED Air MD-82 Crash

    MD-82 Crash Lands At Miami, Catching Fire And Injuring Three

    June 22, 2022
  • Air Canada Fifth Freedom London Mumbai

    Cool: New Air Canada Fifth Freedom Flight From London To Mumbai

    June 21, 2022

5 Comments

  1. Proschwit Reply
    March 26, 2022 at 8:58 am

    Including ORD, LAX, EWR, and SFO in this article is muddying the waters, low cost carriers are free to add routes, flights to these airports as they are not slot controlled.
    There is a huge difference between limiting traffic through the use of slots and monitoring schedules through the use of formal schedule review. I fail to see how any legacy carrier both domestic and international is being protected at ORD, LAX, EWR or SFO when this latest extension has no impact on scheduled review airports.

  2. David M Reply
    March 26, 2022 at 8:59 am

    Curious which airport is this a photo of?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 26, 2022 at 8:59 am

      This is the design for a remodeled JFK T1.

  3. JorgeGeorge Paez Reply
    March 26, 2022 at 10:59 pm

    Too bad the airlines didn’t run a few ghost flights. They might have had more certified pilots ready when demand came back…..

  4. stogieguy7 Reply
    March 28, 2022 at 10:20 am

    Other than Canadian routes (or theoretically Bermuda/Bahamas/northern Caribbean), there’s never going to be international routes from DCA or LGA due to the length of the runways at these vintage airfields.

Leave a Reply to JorgeGeorge Paez Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Lemon And Lime Garnishes Return To United Airlines June 27, 2022
  • Restaurante La Ganania Gran Canaria
    Goat And Other Delicacies For My Birthday June 27, 2022
  • Photo Essay: Gran Canaria June 27, 2022
  • American Airlines Snitch
    Overheard: American Airlines Flight Attendant Sounds Off On Management June 26, 2022

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Delta Korean Air First Class Mistake Fare
    Delta Considers $2,700 A Mistake Fare… June 18, 2022
  • Delta Pilots Open Letter
    Delta Air Lines Pilots Offer Direct Appeal To Customers June 18, 2022
  • United Airlines Honolulu Diversion
    Update: United Airlines 787-9 Diverts To Honolulu Due To Disruptive Passenger June 16, 2022
  • Flaunting Woman Struts Up and Down The Aisle On My Austrian Flight June 9, 2022

Archives

June 2022
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« May    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Posting....