FAA suspends 'use it or lose it' slot rules at US airports (for now)
U.S. airlines now no longer have to decide whether to fly empty flights into three congested airports or risking losing their access as the coronavirus dampens demand for air travel.
Carriers have been reducing their schedules both abroad and domestically to cope with a decline in travel. However, at three East Coast airports, schedule-trimming can be a little trickier than just deciding to shut some services down.
New York's JFK and LaGuardia (LGA) airports, along with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), are all slot-controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration. That means airlines serving those airports need to receive special permission to land and take off — one slot allows one takeoff or one landing — and those slots are highly restricted. Airlines must use their slots at least 80% of the time, or they can be revoked.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news.
As a result, airlines seem to have been hesitant about canceling flights at slot-controlled airports. In a recent slate of coronavirus-related cancellations from United Airlines, for example, not a single flight at LGA or DCA was affected. United does not serve JFK.
On Wednesday, the FAA decided to waive the "use it or lose it" provision of its slot control regulations through May 31, giving carriers more freedom to trim schedules as they see fit.
Related: The most up-to-date info about U.S. airlines' coronavirus-related waivers and schedule changes.
"The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily waiving minimum slot-use requirements at U.S. airports to help airlines that cancel flights due to the coronavirus," the agency said in a statement. "The FAA expects that U.S. carriers will be accommodated with reciprocal relief by foreign authorities at airports in their countries, and may determine not to grant a waiver to a foreign carrier whose home jurisdiction does not reciprocate."
The move by the FAA comes just days after European regulators suspended similar restrictions at airports under their jurisdiction.
As airlines have been scaling back their flying, slot control regulations have come under scrutiny in recent weeks. Some European operators, concerned about running afoul of those strict "use it or lose it" rules before they were suspended, were flying empty planes — dubbed by some as "ghost flights" — just to meet their slot requirements.
Those decisions were met with ridicule from U.S. airline executives.
Read more: British Airways suspends famed A318 all-business-class flight from London City to NYC.
"It's also crazy, in Europe people are flying 777s with nobody on board to protect slots," Scott Kirby, United Airlines' president said at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference on Tuesday. "I mean, if you're concerned about climate change? Good grief. Flying empty airplanes to protect slots, how ridiculous is that?"
The FAA's Wednesday decision was not unexpected.
On CBS This Morning Wednesday shortly before the change was announced, JetBlue's CEO Robin Hayes said a group of airline executives had requested such relief from the Trump administration a few weeks ago. He said he expected it to come imminently.
In its announcement, the FAA also said it will relax its schedule reviews at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The agency said it will give credit to airlines for previously-scheduled flights at those airports that were canceled due to coronavirus demand reduction through May 31.
Edward Russell contributed reporting.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees