Coronavirus: Airlines running ‘ghost flights’ – but none have landed in Manchester
Reporter: Niall Griffiths
Date published: 11 March 2020
Demand for air travel has fallen as the coronavirus – also known as COVID-19 – has spread across the globe
British airlines are running ‘ghost flights’ to try and keep take-off and landing spots amid the coronavirus outbreak, though none have landed in Manchester.
Demand for air travel has fallen as the coronavirus – also known as COVID-19 – has spread across the globe, leading some operators to cancel scores of flights.
But some are burning thousands of gallons of jet fuel to fly empty planes in what has been described as ‘bad news’ for the environment by transport secretary Grant Shapps.
Under European regulations, airlines have to operate 80pc of their allocated airport slots or risk losing them to a competitor. This is known as the ‘80/20’ or ‘use it or lose it’ rule.
The rule has been relaxed on flights to and from Hong Kong and mainland China, where the virus first originated.
Mr Shapps has urged the European Commission to go further, claiming the rule encouraged behaviour ‘entirely out of step with both the United Kingdom’s and the European Union’s climate commitments’.
The European laws on slot allocation still apply to the UK despite Brexit as it forms part of the transition agreement.
Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) is the independent body responsible for allocating slots in the UK – including Manchester Airport – in line with EU guidance.
But Manchester Airport Group says there are no ghost flights operating at its airports, which include London Stansted and East Midlands.
The company is partly owned by the 10 metropolitan borough councils of Greater Manchester authorities, many of which have become more aware of climate change in recent years.
Writing to EU transport boss Adina Vălean, Mr Shapps said: “The impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak are increasingly being felt across Europe.
“This includes significant impacts on the aviation sector, with many airlines reporting considerable deterioration in passenger demand, consequently exacerbating pressures on commercial operations.
“This is leading to the prospect of international ‘ghost planes’ carrying few passengers on board. An outcome which is both problematic for the airlines and needlessly damaging to the environment.”
Mr Shapps had also written to ACL asking them to take action regarding the allocation of slots in the UK.
ACL said it was monitoring the coronavirus crisis ‘very closely’ but said it was for the European Commission to sign off on any changes to the laws.
Similar alleviations were made in 2002 in the aftermath of 9/11, in 2003 after the SARS pandemic and the Iraq War and in 2009 following the financial crash.
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