Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
187. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the number of ghost flights operated without or with few passengers; if he will provide the details of same in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021; his plans to address this environmentally damaging practice by airlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50727/22]
View answerI am aware of reports of so-called "ghost" flights being flown by airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily to retain use of slots at congested European airports.
Slots at congested European airports are governed by European regulations. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU adopted alleviation measures to address the impact that travel and public health related restrictions had on the ability of airlines to retain use of slots at congested EU airports as permission to use such slots is largely based on historic use; the so-called “use it or lose it” rule.
The purpose of the alleviation measures was to reduce the commercial risk to airlines from non-utilisation of airport slots where traffic had fallen away. The alleviation measures applied have been gradually reduced as travel restrictions have been lifted and European aviation recovers from the impact of the pandemic. However, to address any continuing uncertainty due to COVID-19 and the situation in Ukraine, additional alleviation measures for the upcoming winter scheduling period and a period beyond is currently being considered at EU level.
My officials are liaising with our State and regional airports to collate information on any scheduled passenger air services that operated at less than 10% passenger capacity for the years requested and will provide this information to the Deputy when it becomes available.
Any airline operating "ghost" flights solely to retain control/use of certain airport slots is, of course, a cause for concern particularly from an environmental perspective. However, it should be borne in mind that flights may have operated with lower passenger numbers in order to ensure the continued flow of air cargo during the pandemic, or to ensure that aircraft remained operationally ready. Situations such as these should be considered when interpreting any data that becomes available.
