Does legitimization of secondary slot trading improve capacity usage at EU airports?

摘要

In 2008, the EC clarified the acceptance of secondary slot trading in the EU, which is expected to lead to more efficient use of slots. However, recent studies suggest that the similar system adopted in the US has suffered from inefficient hoarding of underutilized slots. Thus, this paper examines whether the legitimization of secondary slot trading has led to improved capacity usage at the EU slot-constrained airports. The results of regression analyses of the data from the routes to or from intra-EU airports (2005–2011) suggest that: (1) hoarding behavior is suspected on the short-distance routes to or from Level 3 airports other than Gatwick and Heathrow, whereas (2) it has not occurred or has had little effect at Gatwick and Heathrow. Secondary slot trading might have contributed to the improvement of capacity utilization at the two London airports.