Airlines may soon be allowed to buy and sell takeoff and landing slots at congested European airports.
The European Council of Transport Minsters has approved changes to the system of slot allocation that will create a secondary market in arport slots.
The measure was approved by a majority vote of the Council. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar attended for Ireland. The move may be of interest to Aer Lingus, which holds the third highest number of slots at London Heathrow, one of Europe's most congested airports.
The planned changes to rules on slots dating from 1993 must now go to the European Parliament for its approval before becoming law.
