News / A growing fleet of PAX aircraft flying without passengers – but carrying cargo

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The European Union’s decision to relax slot rules has stopped ’ghost flights’ – those operating with nothing on board except flight crews for the sole purpose of retaining slots.

The industry can now expect to see a growing fleet of passenger aircraft flying without passengers – but with cargo in their bellyholds.

Delta is the latest carrier to join a lengthening list that have decided to deploy idle aircraft to move cargo, announcing this week it was responding to corporate customers by ...