ABC gets more slots at Schiphol after threat to close Russian airspace to KLM

It seems the Dutch have caved in to Russia’s demands for slots at Schiphol for AirBridgeCargo. Russian aviation authorities threatened to prevent Dutch carriers using its airspace – effectively KLM, the only Dutch carrier using Russian airspace – unless the slots that ABC lost for failing to comply with the 80:20 rule were returned. With the threat set to take effect on Saturday, a report from NRC claimed KLM had struck a commercial agreement with the Russian carrier. Slot coordinator at Schiphol Caroline Ditvoorst told NRC she was worried the move would set worrying precedent of carriers trying to extort Schiphol into giving over slots. This report from NL Times gives the story in English.