ESC argues for 70:30 rule for freighter operators at full airports

© Tatiana Bralnina

The European Shippers Council is arguing, reasonably enough, that IATA’s 80:20 rule, whereby airlines lose slots at full airports if they fail to operate 80% of flights as per the schedule, should be adapted to 70:30 for freighter operations. Freighter operators need to adjust schedules and wait for cargo, whereas the 80:20 rule was designed by IATA for passenger operations. The low-cost and leisure airlines are taking up the capacity, and many are not even IATA members. But despite frequent requests for comment from both the ESC and The Loadstar, IATA has stayed uncharacteristically quiet on this one. Is it because cargo doesn’t matter much? We are starting to wonder…