# slot policy

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Slot coordinators and airport operators use slot policies to allocate scarce runway capacity at coordinated airports in a fair and transparent way.

Slot coordinators and airport operators use slot policies to allocate scarce runway capacity at coordinated airports in a fair and transparent way. A slot is the right to use an airport's infrastructure for a take-off or landing on a specific date and time. The policy governs how slots are first allocated, how they may be transferred between carriers, when unused slots are forfeited, and which priority rules apply during peak congestion. For cargo carriers and integrators, securing stable time windows is critical—whether for dedicated freighter operations or belly capacity in passenger aircraft. Under the EU's historic-slot regime, carriers must use their allocated slots for at least 80 percent of a scheduling season to retain them in the following equivalent season.

**Source:** [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31993R0095](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31993R0095)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | slot policy |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 120 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31993R0095 |

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