Aer Lingus caught up in multi-billion dollar US legal dispute over airport slots

Aer Lingus has been caught up in a multi-billion dollar legal dispute relating to the method used to allocate airport slots at major US airports. The national flag carrier is named as one of more than 80 defendants in a civil action which centres on alleged anti-competitive practices in the allocation of lucrative slots to airlines. Slots are permissions granted for an airline to land or take off on a particular day and within a specific time frame. They are allocated by airport operators under guidelines set down by the IATA, a trade association of the world’s airlines. The action has been filed by the CE of Exhaustless Inc, a US company which has developed an algorithm-based product designed to reduce flight delays and congestion at commercial airports. The company claims its technology has been boycotted as part of an alleged air carrier cartel conspiracy to restrain trade. Among other things, the lawsuit seeks to restrict dozens of airlines, including Aer Lingus, from participating in alliance agreements.<br/>