§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the viability of creating specific ring-fenced slots at Heathrow for essential regional air services. [140092]
§ Mr. MullinThe Civil Aviation Authority has recently produced a paper for the Department on the economics of ring-fencing slots. No detailed study has been done of the practicalities involved. However, the Government are not generally attracted to ring-fencing slots for particular air services as this would introduce an element of undesirable rigidity into the slot allocation system. The current arrangement, where slots are not route-specific, allows changes in the routes operated by airlines in response to market developments. Without this flexibility there would be restrictions in the scope to develop new business and limitations on the development of competition on some routes.
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the operation and management of slot allocation at Heathrow Airport. [140168]
§ Mr. MullinSlot allocation at airports like Heathrow, where demand for slots significantly exceeds supply, is governed by European Regulation EC95/93. An independent co-ordinator makes the allocations using a set of priority criteria that reflects the European Regulation, international guidelines and any local rules. The334W co-ordinator is charged with making allocations in a neutral, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. I am satisfied that the Heathrow co-ordinator, Airport Co-ordination Ltd., operates in this way.