Easyjet buys Thomas Cook slots at Gatwick & Bristol

Easyjet A320 neo at Bristol Airport (Image: UK Aviation Media)
Easyjet A320 neo at Bristol Airport (Image: UK Aviation Media)

Low-cost carrier EasyJet (U2/EZY) has bought the landing slots that belonged to Thomas Cook at Bristol and Gatwick Airports.

The official receiver for the bankrupt Thomas Cook made the announcement this morning.

The move will allow EasyJet to increase its presence at two key airports and brings the potential of several new routes.

EasyJet paid £36m for the slots which include 12 summer pairs and 8 winter pairs at Gatwick and 6 summer slot pairs and 1 winter pair at Bristol.

How do slots work?

Airports fall into two main categories – Co-ordinated (level 2 & 3) and Non-Coordinated (level 1).

At coordinated airports, take-offs and landings are regulated by Slot Pairs making them a valuable commodity for busy airports.

When an airline ceases trading the slots owned by the airline can be sold to another airline subject to regulatory approval to avoid monopolies.

In the UK, Slot Pairs are issued and regulated by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL).

About Nick Harding 2043 Articles
Nick is the senior reporter and editor at UK Aviation News as well as working freelance elsewhere. He has his finger firmly on the pulse on Aviation, not only in the UK but worldwide. Nick has been asked to speak in a professional capacity on LBC, Heart and other broadcast networks.