GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Slot Grandfathering
Slot grandfathering gives airlines the right to reclaim a time window at a coordinated airport in the next equivalent season, provided they operated it with sufficient regularity in the current one.
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Source: https://www.iata.org/en/policy/slots/slot-guidelines/
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Definition & Explanation
Slot grandfathering gives airlines the right to reclaim a time window at a coordinated airport in the next equivalent season, provided they operated it with sufficient regularity in the current one. The principle functions as a form of property right: historical usage establishes a vested entitlement that takes precedence over new applicants competing for the same slot. For major network carriers, grandfathered slots at congested hubs represent significant commercial assets, sometimes valued at tens of millions of dollars. The flip side is the risk of incumbents operating marginal routes purely to preserve these rights, which is why grandfathering rules are paired with strict use-it-or-lose-it requirements.
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