Petition · past parliament · Department for Transport

Change the law on airport slots to favour ecological practices

Closed 61 signatures

What the petition asks

Under international guidelines and EU law companies keep their landing slots if they use them over 80% of the time in UK's major airports.

During the covid-19 crisis this is resulting in ghost (empty) flights.
UK law should priorities positive ecological practices both during and post the crisis.

The House of Commons has announced a climate change emergency.

Aircraft engines emit particulates and gases into the atmosphere which contributes to climate change.
In times of low international travel (such as now, during covid-19 outbreak) planes should not fly empty.

Laws such as the 80% slot usage leads to economical incentive for airlines to fly empty planes because slots are valuable. This practice should be stopped. The priority should be to reduce pollution not support big airlines.

Timeline

16 Mar 2020 Petition opened for signatures
16 Sep 2020 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 61
Status Closed
Department Department for Transport
Opened 16 Mar 2020
Closed 16 Sep 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.