Airport slot

An airport slot is a specific time window allocated to an airline to either take off from or land at a particular airport. These slots are especially important at busy or congested airports where demand for flights is higher than the airport’s capacity to handle them. Without an assigned slot, an airline cannot schedule flights during peak seasons at such airports.

Airport slots are critical for full-service carriers that rely on offering frequent connections between major hubs. They help regulate air traffic, avoid delays, and ensure that an airport’s infrastructure is used efficiently. 

Slots are usually managed by airport authorities. In many cases, airlines with codeshare or interline agreements coordinate slot usage to provide smoother connections for travelers.

Airlines value slots at large international hubs because they can generate significant revenue, especially on routes served by flag carriers or members of global airline alliances. When combined with airport management systems, slot management contributes to maintaining order in airport operations and plays a key role in the broader air travel ecosystem.