Brazil's ANAC opens public hearing and consultation on new procedures for slot usage

Brazil's ANAC announced (01-Feb-2013) plans to set a public hearing and consultation on new procedures for the use of slots at airports which are operating at the limits to their capacity, or which are considered "of great relevance" to the national air network. The agency plans to "penalise the improper use of scarce airport infrastructure". ANAC CEO Marcelo Guaranys stated, "We want to tighten the requirements of companies to maintain their slots, to optimise the use of scarce airport infrastructure and expand access to more companies at each airport. This will increase competition, helping to reduce the price of airline tickets." The proposed measures include:

• Inclusion of punctuality as a parameter in measuring the efficient use of slots;
• Withdrawal of "misused" slots and penalties to companies that "do not adequately use airport infrastructure";
• "Possibility" of setting parameters of regularity and punctuality appropriate to the characteristics of each airport;
• Establishment of seasons for monitoring the use of slots;

Contributions to the public hearing will be accepted until 02-Mar-2013. [more - original PR - Portuguese]