The pre-pandemic ‘use it or lose it’ rule for airport slots is coming back. The UK government says that effective March 26 this year, airlines at British airports will have to maintain 80% of their take-off and landing slots to keep them.

“Slots rules will return to normal this summer,” said Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

“Now we’re able to start a more optimistic conversation about the future.”

The 80:20 rule which states that airlines must use their take-off slots at UK airports at least 80 percent of the time to be allowed to keep them was relaxed when air travel fell drastically during the pandemic.

Airport slots at hubs such as Heathrow are extremely valuable and highly sought after.