Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision for implementing the Community obligations of the United Kingdom provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 95/93 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports.

The airport operator is named the competent authority for the purposes of article 6.1 of the Council Regulation (regulation 2(2)).

Provision is made for publication of any determination that an airport be designated a coordinated or a fully coordinated airport, be a coordinated airport for which a coordination committee is set up or be a coordinated airport for which capacity shall be determined (regulations 3 and 7).

Provision is made for the appointment of an approved coordinator for a coordinated or fully coordinated airport and his dismissal if he fails to act in an independent manner (regulation 4). In exercising his duties an airport coordinator is bound to have regard to any reservation of slots for regional services effected by the Secretary of State (regulation 5).

The airport coordination committee is given the duty of meeting when serious problems for new entrants persist (regulation 8).

Offences are created where a person acts as coordinator when not approved as such, where an air carrier fails to give the coordinator requested relevant information and where an air carrier exchanges or transfers slots contrary to the requirements of the Council Regulation (regulations 4(5) and (6), 6, 9, 11 and 12).

Provision is made for the giving of notice when the obligations of the Council Regulation are suspended (regulation 10).