{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-255/article-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-255/article-3.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2010/255",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 255/2010 of 25 March 2010 laying down common rules on air traffic flow management (Text with EEA relevance)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-255",
  "path": "article/3",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Air traffic flow management framework",
  "text": "1. The planning, coordination and execution of the ATFM measures by the parties referred to in Article 1(3) shall comply with the ICAO provisions specified in the Annex.\n2. ATFM shall be governed by the following principles:\n(a) ATFM measures shall:\n(i)prevent excessive air traffic demand compared with declared air traffic control (ATC) capacity of sectors and airports;\n(ii)use UK ATMS capacity to the maximum extent possible in order to optimise the efficiency of the UK ATMS and minimise adverse effects on operators;\n(iii)optimise the UK ATMS capacity made available through the development and application of capacity enhancing measures by ATS units;\n(iv)support the management of critical events;\n(b) local ATFM units and the central unit for ATFM shall be considered as part of the ATFM function.\n3. The allocation of ATFM departure slots shall give priority to flights according to the order of their planned entry into the location at which the ATFM measure will apply, unless specific circumstances require application of a different priority rule which is formally agreed and is of benefit to the UK ATMS.\nThe first subparagraph may be applied to flights which are unable to accept the re-routing option to avoid or alleviate congested areas, taking into consideration the location and extent of the congested area.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Art. 3(2)(a)(ii) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Air Traffic Management (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/459), regs. 1(2), 174; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Art. 3(2)(a)(iii) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Air Traffic Management (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/459), regs. 1(2), 174; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Art. 3(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Air Traffic Management (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/459), regs. 1(2), 174; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2010/255/article/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:50:52.241653+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}