• Airlines are urging governments to invoke Justified Non-Use of Slots (JNUS) as the Middle East conflict disrupts schedules beyond the standard 80 percent utilisation threshold.
• Prolonged airspace closures, rerouting and fuel constraints mean recovery will take months, not days, even if conditions stabilise quickly.
• Temporary slot relief would prevent unnecessary flying, protect long-term network rights and allow limited capacity to be used more efficiently during the crisis.

Airlines are pressing governments to grant urgent regulatory flexibility on airport slots as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to upend flight operations, strain fuel supply chains and force widespread rerouting.

At the centre of the issue is the global slot allocation system governed by the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG), an industry framework designed to balance scarce airport capacity with airline demand. Under normal conditions, the system hinges on the long-established 80–20 rule: carriers must use at least 80 percent of their allocated slots to retain them, with a 20 percent buffer to absorb routine disruption such as weather or technical faults.

That balance is now under pressure. With airspace closures, operational curtailments and fuel shortages persisting for more than six weeks, airlines argue the standard tolerance no longer reflects operational reality.

The industry is instead calling for the application of “Justified Non-Use of Slots” (JNUS), a provision within WASG intended for extraordinary circumstances. The mechanism effectively freezes slot usage requirements until conditions stabilise, preventing airlines from being penalised for disruptions beyond their control.

The precedent is clear. During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread border closures rendered normal flying impossible, prompting regulators to suspend slot utilisation rules. Airlines now contend the current crisis presents a comparable scenario, albeit driven by geopolitical instability rather than public health restrictions.

Operational challenges are mounting. Carriers have been forced to redesign networks at short notice, reroute flights around conflict zones, and in some cases suspend services altogether. Fuel availability has also emerged as a critical constraint in parts of the region. Even where flights remain technically viable, airlines have pre-emptively cancelled services to provide passengers with greater certainty amid volatile conditions.

Critically, the recovery curve is unlikely to be immediate. Restarting grounded operations requires time to reposition aircraft and crew, rebuild schedules and re-establish fuel logistics. Industry estimates suggest a return to stable operations will take months rather than weeks, even if hostilities cease in the near term.

Against this backdrop, airlines are proposing a rolling six-week application of JNUS, reviewed continuously until normal operating conditions resume. The aim is to safeguard network integrity and protect long-term investments in route development from short-term geopolitical shocks.

Beyond preserving airline slot portfolios, the move carries wider operational benefits. Suspending rigid slot usage requirements would reduce unnecessary flights, easing pressure on constrained fuel supplies while limiting additional disruption. It would also allow unused airport capacity to be temporarily reallocated to carriers able to operate, maintaining a degree of connectivity during the crisis.

There is also a structural concern at play. Slot portfolios underpin global route networks, and their loss can have lasting consequences for market access and passenger connectivity. Airlines warn that failing to apply JNUS risks turning a temporary disruption into a long-term erosion of network viability.

Industry guidance on implementation is already established. Best practice includes granting relief at both ends of affected routes, recognising the cascading impact of disruption across wider networks, and accepting government advisories as sufficient justification for non-operation. Regulators are also encouraged to avoid overly rigid interpretations of the rules and to use coordination committees to ensure consistency in decision-making.

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