Slot Allocation Process

Process of slot allocation/schedules facilitation

Coordination/schedules facilitation is done according to methodology, dates, and deadlines that are accepted and applied worldwide. You can find the dates of schedule coordination activities for the two forthcoming scheduling seasons here.

IATA Schedules Conference

The IATA Schedules Conferences are held twice each year (in June for the next winter season and in November for the next summer season). It is the most important event of the worldwide scheduling community, where more than 200 schedules facilitated or coordinated airports and close to 300 airlines assemble with the aim to optimize their schedules at major airports.

During the Conference, schedules are adjusted mainly through bilateral discussions between airlines and coordinators regarding alternatives offered, or between airlines to exchange slots offered or accepted. A schedule change at one airport will affect one or more other airports. Because all coordinators/schedule facilitators and airlines attend the Conference, it provides a forum in which all such repercussive changes can be processed. For further information please visit http://www.iata.org/policy/slots/Pages/index.aspx

How to Apply for Slots and Submit Schedules

Requests for scheduled and charter passenger and cargo flights must be submitted for both seasonal and ad-hoc services by sending a request to the coordinator/schedules facilitator in IATA SSIM (Standard Schedules Information Manual) format. 

Same day changes are not subject to slot coordination/schedule facilitation and need not be submitted to Airport Coordination Hungary. Such requests are dealt by the Operations Department of Budapest Airport (SITA: BUDOPXH, email: airport.ops@bud.hu). However, we highly appreciate if copies of these requests are sent to us (e-mail: budcoord@budcoord.hu).

The main principles and rules for SSIM messages are:

  • All dates, days and times are in UTC
  • Timings are on stand / off stand (not runway time)
  • Dates and periods of operations must be within the season period
  • Two seasons: Summer and Winter
  • Summer starts on the last Sunday in March through to the Saturday of the last weekend in October
  • Winter starts on the last Sunday in October through to the Saturday of the last weekend in March
  • Messages must be answered within 3 business days
  • Only 1 scheduled arrival and/or departure on the same day for a given flight designator 

Messages can be sent by email (budcoord@hungarocontrol.hu). For emails the following rules apply:

  • Plain text format only
  • No attachments
  • Email body must begin with the message format i.e. SCR/SMA/SIR etc.
  • Your email address must be specified in the reference line of the header
  • Any non-standard text must be preceded by a GI footer line

For a detailed guide on how to use the SSIM (Standard Schedules Information Manual) and how to create an SCR, SMA, SIR and other messages related to coordination/schedule facilitation please click here.