Thomas Cook’s Gatwick slots likely to generate interest

The grounding of Thomas Cook Airlines is likely to spark interest in the airline’s slot portfolio at London Gatwick, although the slots are highly seasonal. Gatwick is a highly constrained airport and slots are a sought-after commodity. Thomas Cook Airlines holds around 18 daily summer slot pairs at Gatwick and roughly 9 daily pairs in winter. Industry sources noted the airline holds an unusual set of slots because it is a primarily a leisure charter carrier. This means the slots are “seasonally imbalanced” and timed at irregular hours, on various days of the week, impacting the value of the portfolio and making it less attractive to would-be buyers. There is also the question of who owns the slots once an airline ceases to operate, but this was clarified by a recent legal precedent that was set by Monarch Airlines’ own collapse. <br/>