How Business Aviation Slots Work
One of the main benefits of traveling by private jet is the ability to quickly rent a plane and fly at a convenient time for you. However, airports in popular destinations tend to regulate the take-off and landing time of business jets using a slot system or setting prime times during holidays or public events such as the World Economic Forum or the Super Bowl. Of course, air brokers who arrange flights know how to handle slot systems and how to ensure that your jet departs and arrives at a convenient time, but in general it is well worth learning what slots are and how they work.
A slot is a specific time provided by an airport for taking off or landing an aircraft. Slots are compiled before the appointed flight date and flight organizers must adhere to pre-booked intervals, otherwise the aircraft will not be able to land until new slots open up.
The slot system is usually used to control the number of aircraft in the air and departure/arrival area. Typically, slots are used at high-demand airports, both on ordinary days and during seasonal peaks, for example, on New Year's holidays.
Many airports with a slot system serve both private jets and airlines, and the latter often have priority in using the slots that they receive for a particular flight and aircraft. This means that on peak days it is better to book private flights in advance or, if all else fails, choose quieter airports.
A striking example is London Heathrow: the airport is heavily congested on any day, regardless of the date, so it has very few slots for private jets. Clients are usually offered London City or London Luton with more flexible hours and access. When planning a flight through a slotted airport, the operator informs the client of any possible restrictions, and after booking the flight, finds the best possible departure time.
When can the slot system be problematic and how can I avoid it?
Winter season
When the ski season is at its peak, many airports near popular ski resorts introduce a slot system to managethe increase in passenger traffic. If a pilot or operator does not book a landing interval in time, planes can end up circling in the air for several hours before air traffic controllers can squeeze them in, so when possible it is important to book flights in advance.
For example, the slot system at the airport of the famous ski resort Aspen works on a first-come served basis, after commercial airlines. Peak periods here are from mid-December to early January, mid-February and March. To avoid landing problems, consider nearby airports and transfer to your destination.
Summer season
European islands such as Ibiza or Mykonos, as well as the popular resorts of the Côte d'Azur can be difficult to land at during the summer peak period. As a result, from June to September, the airports of these destinations introduce a slot system. You cannot be late by more than 10-15 minutes or the slot is lost, and you need to get a new one. In this regard, in order not to lose your slot, you should arrive at the airport in good time (at least 40-50 minutes earlier) or bear the extra costs of an alternate airport.
Major events: Super Bowl, Olympic Games, Horse Racing, Music and Arts Festivals
Major international events which are held in different cities every year, such as the Super Bowl, impact the operations of the airports of the host cities, because each has its own features, such as weather or climatic conditions, throughput, and restrictions related to the terrain. During the Super Bowl, about 1,500 private flights typically land in the host city, which is several times the average for most airports.
Events attended by more than 30,000 people also tend to lead to the temporary slotting of flights, which means thatplanning ahead is vital.
