the uk governments move to relax airport slot rules for summer 2022 has prompted mixed responses from the sector on monday the uks department for transport said it had laid out regulations before parliament which would ease airport slot rules in a move intended to support the recovery of the airline sector the government said that for the summer 2022 season airlines will now need to use their slots at least 70 of the time to keep them down from 80 it added that the list of situations where airlines can justify not using a slot was being widened further heathrow airport said it welcomed the governments new rules and that the decision was fair to both airports and airlines it strikes the right balance between driving recovery and promoting competition which is positive for consumers while recognising that the industry still faces uncertainty and needs support the airport said gatwick airport added that the governments decision was welcome and would support the hardhit aviation sector and wider economy by sending a clear message that markets are returning to normal as we learn to live with covid19 meanwhile wizz air called the move a step in the right direction and said this was a great opportunity for uk aviation to get back on its feet but the budget airline said it would continue to urge the government to eventually transition to the full reinstatement of the 80 slot usage rules so that consumers will once again benefit from a competitive uk aviation market however others in the industry werent so supportive of the governments decision luis gallego chief executive of iagwhich owns british airways and iberia among otherssaid that under the current circumstances the decision would force airlines to operate flights with low load factors thus generating unnecessary co2 emissions this is bad for the environment and detrimental to aviations efforts to tackle climate change mr gallego said as is the case in the current winter season the government said the move will cover situations where covid19related restrictions at either end of a route result in a severe reduction in demand for the summer season it will no longer be necessary for carriers to show that the measures were unforeseeable the measures will allow airlines in these circumstances to keep their historic rights to the slots even if passenger demand doesnt justify operating a flight the government said without this regulation the usage threshold would default back to 80 and no additional flexibility on justified nonuse thereby increasing the risk of ghost flights the department said todays extension marks a step back towards normal rules helping the sector to recover and grow as travel returns while protecting it against any future uncertainty uk transport secretary grant shapps said iag shares at 1515 gmt were down 7 at 14668 pence wizz air shares were down 5 at 4251 pence