Case 50616 – Investigation into the Atlantic Joint Business Agreement

The general duties and responsibilities of the Trustee are set out in Section 5B of the Commitments. The Trustee also has specific responsibilities, which are set forth throughout the Commitments. Other elements of the Commitments relate to Special Prorate Agreements and Frequent Flyer Programmes, which may be requested by Eligible Air Services Providers subject to sections 3 and 4 of the Commitments, respectively.

Notice of an upcoming Slot Release Procedure for the IATA Winter 2026/27 Season

The information provided below is intended to draw the attention of airlines to the Slot Release Procedure under the Commitments.

The Slot Release Procedure launches on 5 March 2026. Pursuant to the Commitments, the Parties undertake, inter alia, to make Slots available at London (at the choice of the Applicant at either Heathrow or Gatwick), to allow a single eligible airline (Prospective Entrant) to operate up to seven (7) frequencies per week on the London-Chicago Identified City Pair.

Starting with the IATA Winter 2026/27 season, the Parties shall make the London-Chicago Slots available to a single Prospective Entrant for the following operations:

1. In the IATA Summer season, the Prospective Entrant shall operate a non-stop service on at least four (4) days per week (Competitive Non‑Stop Air Service), and, to the extent relevant, a one-stop service, provided the total elapsed time is no more than four (4) hours longer than the non-stop service (Competitive One‑Stop Air Service). 
2. In the IATA Winter season, the Prospective Entrant shall operate on at least four (4) days per week and may operate a Competitive Non‑Stop Air Service, a Competitive One‑Stop Air Service or a combination of the two (Competitive Split-Series Air Service).

The same number of daily Slots must be operated in the IATA Summer season and the IATA Winter season. The complete definitions of the terms are set out in the “Definitions” section of the Commitments.

Carriers operating non-stop flights between London and Chicago at the date of the Commitments are not eligible for these Slots.

Applicants wishing to apply for Slots on the London-Chicago Identified City Pair should request a Slot Request Application Form from the Trustee at the earliest opportunity. Any airline wishing to obtain Slots must inform the Trustee of its proposed Slot request using the Slot Request Application Form, which must be submitted by 18:00 GMT on 19 March 2026.

Key dates for the Slot Release Procedure for the IATA Winter 2026/27 Season

• 19 March 2026 - Deadline for Applicants to submit to the Trustee the completed Slot Request Application Form, along with requests for anonymity, if any, and the DOT waiver.
• 23 April 2026 - Deadline for the CMA (advised by the Trustee) to assess whether the Applicants meet the criteria of Prospective Entrant as defined under the Commitments.
• 7 May 2026 -
  • Deadline for Applicants to send a request for Slots to the Slot coordinator in accordance with the General Slot Allocation Procedure (“GSAP”), for the same times as those requested pursuant to the Slot Release Procedure under the Commitments. Applicants to share confirmation of such request with the Trustee; and
  • Deadline for Applicants to submit to the Trustee a formal bid (including the Key Terms, business plan, formal corporate statement of intent, and offers of compensation for the Slots, if any).
• 8 June 2026 - Applicants to share confirmation of the GSAP results with the Trustee.

Further details of the Slot Release Procedure are available from the Trustee. Applicants are requested to contact justin.menezes@mazars.co.uk, stephen.wainwright@steergroup.com and myoori.patel-rivet@mazars.co.uk to obtain a Slot Request Application Form at the earliest opportunity.

Please refer to the text of the Commitments themselves for an authoritative statement of the available contracts and the application process. To the extent that there is any discrepancy between this notice and the Commitments, the Commitments shall prevail.

Applicant airlines who have not requested anonymity are strongly encouraged to also contact Airport Coordination Limited (“ACL”) at the earliest opportunity. ACL is responsible for the coordination of Slots, service and infrastructure requirements at the London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports. In the first instance, Applicants should contact Amy Balman at ACL, whose details are provided below:

Applicant airlines that request anonymity under the terms of Clause 1.26(d) of the Commitments are advised to inform ACL of the anonymity of their request when contacting ACL and otherwise correspond with the Trustee only.

Trustee contact details

AJB Monitoring Trustee
FAO Justin Menezes

Forvis Mazars LLP, 30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU

Email: justin.menezes@mazars.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)7881 284 080