Slot monitoring
Slot monitoring is performed by ACNL in cooperation with the airport and air traffic control authorities. Several types of monitoring are applicable for which procedures and regulations may differ per airport.
How monitoring works
Slot monitoring is performed by ACNL in cooperation with the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (Dutch Civil Aviation Authority) and the airports. ACNL complies with the European Council Regulation 95/93 as amended and the World Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG) to monitor the use and adherence of allocated airport slots at all Dutch slot coordinated airports. ACNL performs monitoring based on the received data from the airport managing body.
Monitoring mission
ACNL aims to ensure that slots are being used as indicated at the time of allocation in order to achieve that scarce capacity is being used in the most efficient way. ACNL will comply with the European Council Regulation 95/93 as amended to monitor the use and adherence of allocated airport slots at all Dutch level 3 coordinated airports.
Principles
EC Regulation 95/93, as amended, stipulates that the coordinator shall monitor the conformity of air carriers’ operations with the slots allocated to them. These conformity checks shall be carried out in cooperation with the managing body of the airport and other stakeholders and shall take into account the time and other relevant parameters.
Slot monitoring at coordinated airports is a continuous process designed to ensure that most effective use is made of scarce capacity, an adequate level of service quality is maintained and intentional schedule abuse is separated from the normal variations in operational performance.LES
The main objective of slot monitoring is to identify (possible) problems regarding the use of slots and seek solutions before they occur. All procedures related to slot monitoring must be based on the principles of neutrality, transparency and non-discrimination.
Important notice
For monitoring purposes the airlines involved in joint operations, code share agreements etc. are required to make sure that both codes of the flights of the carriers involved are in the airport information systems. Moreover ACNL must be informed by both carriers involved of the details of the slots involved (for example, operating flight number) and the period of the joint operation and/or code share.
It is the responsibility of the airlines to deliver the correct information to ACNL; every change must be sent to ACNL by the slot holder as a SCR (except operational changes on the day of operation).
Slot enforcement code
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT/CAA-NL) and Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL) supervise slot misuse in the Netherlands. The Slot Enforcement Code (SEC) has been jointly drawn up in order to make optimum use of the available capacity at coordinated airports. The Slot Enforcement Code describes what the ILT and ACNL understand by the different forms of slot misuse, what sanctions can be imposed when and by whom. The Slot Enforcement Code clarifies and coordinates the already existing legal competences of the monitoring and enforcement bodies; it does not contain any new (legal) competences, sanctions or forms of slot misuse.
In short our monitoring procedures
Slot monitoring is performed by ACNL in cooperation with the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (Dutch Civil Aviation Authority) and the airports. ACNL complies with the European Council Regulation 95/93 as amended and the World Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG) to monitor the use and adherence of allocated airport slots at all Dutch slot coordinated airports. ACNL performs monitoring based on the received data from the airport managing body.
Slot misuse
The following nine (9) types of slot misuse are monitored and enforced by ACNL and/ or CAA-NL.
Slot misuses CAA-NL1. Jumping the queue
Requesting slots for an operation other than that indicated, with the intention of obtaining improved priority
2. Overbidding
Requesting new slots without the intention to operate
3. Late slot returns
Holding slots without intention to operate, transfer, swap, or use in a shared operation
4. Capacity blocking (holding slots)
Holding slots for an operation other than that planned for the purpose of denying capacity to another airline or aircraft operator
5. Different way ops
Operating a flight in a significantly different way to the slot allocated – including difference of service type, aircraft subtype, aircraft capacity, or origin/destination
6. Ops without slot
Operating at a Level 3 airport without an allocated slot
7. Unplanned restricted time ops
Operating in a curfew or another restricted operations period without holding an allocated slot for that period
8. Different time ops
Operating a flight as part of a series at a significantly different time from the allocated slot
9. Slot not cancelled
Not operating a flight for which a slot was allocated
Relevant documents
EUACA guidelines including EUSG4: JNUSSlot enforcement codeContains all details per type of misuse, such as example situations, legal basis, conditions for sanctioning and options of sanctions.
- Justified Non-Use of Slots (JNUS) for ‘Use it or lose it’ RuleOpen in new tab
- Working Procedure Slot MonitoringOpen in new tab
Elaborates on the terms of significantly, repeatedly and intentionally for the different types of misuse.