Misryoum reports how regulators can apply justified slot non-use to protect schedules when airspace disruptions and fuel shortages break normal operations.
Every airline schedule is built on a promise of consistency, and the Iran crisis is breaking that promise in real time.
Under the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG), airport slots are allocated under rules meant to keep scarce capacity working for everyone.. A key principle is the 80-20 approach, where airlines generally must use their slots most of the time to retain them, while a limited share of non-use can accommodate disruptions like weather or technical issues.. But Misryoum notes that wartime conditions and fuel shortages are different in scale, duration, and impact.
When operations become impossible, the rules need room for fairness. WASG includes a Justified Non-Use of Slots (JNUS) exemption, which essentially pauses how slot utilization is assessed during extraordinary events, so airlines are not penalized for not using slots when they cannot reasonably fly.
This matters because slot compliance is not just paperwork. When networks are forced into cancellations and rerouting, the “non-use” is not strategic. It is the result of operational reality that airlines cannot easily override.
Misryoum reports that the disruption linked to the conflict has included closed or restricted airspace, reduced operations at some airports, large-scale rerouting to avoid risk areas, and fuel shortages.. With these constraints in place for weeks, airlines say they have been unable to run the schedules they planned months ahead.. Even if the situation improves quickly, recovery is unlikely to be immediate, since aircraft and crews still need to reposition and fuel supplies must be rebuilt before networks can fully restart.
In this context, Misryoum highlights why airlines are urging governments to apply JNUS in a time-bound way, such as for a rolling period, until it becomes clear that normal operations can resume.. The objective is not only short-term relief.. It is also to preserve connectivity so that disruptions do not turn into long-lasting damage to routes that took years to build.
The argument for flexibility extends beyond one airport or one carrier.. Applying JNUS can help avoid unnecessary flying, reduce pressure on limited fuel supplies, and keep airport capacity available for airlines that can operate safely.. It can also protect historic slot rights, helping prevent today’s emergency from reshaping slot holdings for years to come.
Misryoum also points to practical guidance that slot coordinators can follow to apply JNUS consistently.. That includes granting relief where disruption prevents operations at either end of a route, accounting for knock-on effects across wider airline networks rather than focusing only on the immediate cancellation trigger, and treating official notices and government advisories as sufficient justification.. It also involves avoiding rigid interpretations that punish rerouting or network adjustments that are necessary to keep flights viable.
This approach is designed to keep decisions steady while conditions remain unstable, which helps airlines plan and reduces the chance of disputes that could delay recovery.. Misryoum stresses that even with the rules in place, the goal remains the same: protect air connectivity now and support rebuilding as the situation stabilizes..