Instruments related to COVID-19
Coronavirus: Changes to business practice and regulation
Draft Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) (No. 2) Regulations 2023
30.This instrument amends airport slot8 usage rules for UK slot-coordinated airports9 for the Winter 2023 season as a result of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All UK travel restrictions were lifted in March 2022, but by mid-June 2023, UK air traffic had only recovered to around 88% of its pre-pandemic level in the corresponding period. Although the usage rule has returned to the normal requirement of operating at least 80% of the slot to retain it for the following winter season, the Department for Transport (DfT) consider it necessary to provide some further relief. First, to allow the non-use of a slot to still be justified if flight restrictions are imposed due to COVID-19 infection rates. Second, it established a pre-season handback session to allow 5% of flights to be reallocated without penalty. In response to consultation almost all airlines reported continuing difficulties with obtaining spare parts, which is affecting their ability to operate their planned schedules. DfT states that handback improves the resilience of the sector and prevents carriers from having to operate near-empty planes to maintain their slot for the following season.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2023 (SI 2023/850)
31.This instrument makes various amendments to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to support its effective operation. The UK ETS was established as a UK-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme to replace the UK’s participation in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Amongst other changes, this instrument brings current benchmark values which were adopted from the EU ETS into UK law; increases temporarily the free allocation for installations that produce lime and malt extract for the 2024 and 2025 scheme years; and enables operators of installations whose free allocation of allowances was reduced by the 2021 activity level changes process to apply for the allocation to be redetermined, taking into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
8 An airport ‘slot’ is a permission to use all necessary airport infrastructure to operate an aircraft at a specified date and time for take-off or landing. Allocation of airport slots is at congested airports is based on neutral, transparent and non-discriminatory rules.
9 The UK has eight slot-coordinated airports: Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester and Stansted.