Assessment of the current air traffic situation in the context of the upcoming winter 2021/2022 season

Priority question for written answer  P-002298/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Tomasz Frankowski (PPE), Dominique Riquet (Renew)

Regulation (EU) 2021/250 empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts no later than 31 July to amend the ‘use it or lose it’ ratio for the following winter scheduling period.

Globally, air travel demand will be 43 % of 2019 levels in 2021 and less than 60 % for the EU market (International Air Transport Association/Eurocontrol). Moreover, international air travel is 89 % down and will be slower to recover than domestic travel (due to delays in vaccination campaigns, reopening dates being unknown at this point and a lack of coordination between Member States on new variants).

The slot process for the winter 21/22 season started on 19 April 2021. Airlines are already making plans despite the current circumstances.

The recent clarifications provided by the Commission to coordinators on the application of the force majeure highlights the need for the swift implementation of comprehensive rules.

• 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of the situation and when is the earliest date that slot relief for the winter 21/22 season will be adopted?
• 2.In order to give visibility to passengers, can the Commission confirm that according to its interpretative guidelines (2020/C 89 I/01), ‘low load cancellations’ should be considered extraordinary circumstances?