Australia introduces reform to Sydney Airport’s slot system after 27 years

The Australian government is introducing new legislation to reform the slot system and allocation at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). 

The last reform seen at the airport was 27 years ago. 

According to the airport, the reforms will deliver benefits to passengers in terms of reliability, competition and choice through an improved compliance regime, with potential penalties for misusing slots, and a recovery mechanism that will reduce cancellations and delays when disruptions occur.

The legislation reforms were recommended by the Harris Review, which was commissioned to determine if the Sydney Airport demand management objectives remained relevant and that the scheme was still fit for purpose.

Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King suggests that the reforms will:

improve efficiency and competition by delivering new civil penalty provisions for failing to use a slot, applying for slots with no reasonable prospects of using them, and failing to return or transfer unused slots
replace the current compliance and enforcement regime with one that is based on modern, international standards
reform the Compliance Committee to ensure it can provide independent advice to the government to effectively inform compliance action
deliver new transparency powers to support the strengthened compliance and enforcement regime, including giving the government power to compel airlines to produce information on slot usage, and
allow the government to make changes to create increased access for new entrants and more access for NSW regional airlines.
Currently, Sydney Airport is restricted to 80 movements per hour, with no provision for these to be amended following a period of disruption such as bad weather. The new recovery mechanism will allow for a temporary, two-hour window where five extra movements per hour will be allowed following disruptions.

In aviation, an aircraft movement means any arrival or departure of aircraft into and out of an airport.

The reform will allow some flights that otherwise would have been canceled to be recovered, providing a better and more reliable experience for passengers, the airport claims.

“This is an important and positive step that will deliver better results for passengers by reducing cancellations and delays,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said in a statement.

“These are the first improvements to the legislation that governs Sydney Airport’s operation in more than 27 years, and we commend the Government for seeing these through. We look forward to the legislation’s passage through the Senate and, once enacted, will continue to work with the Government and its agencies on implementation,” Charlton added.

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