Justified Non-Utilization of Slots

 

Justified non-utilization of slots (JNUS) refers to situations where an airline is not penalized for not using a slot, due to justified or pre-approved reasons. Airlines must use at least 80% of a series of slots to retain them in the next equivalent season. However, if non-use is justified, those unused slots may still count toward the airline’s historic rights.

Common justifications include the reduction or closure of an airport or airspace, severe weather, industrial action or strikes.

This concept is crucial for maintaining fairness in slot allocation by recognizing that airlines may face unavoidable disruptions.

JNUS Best Practices

 

IATA recommends the following best practices:

IATA JNUS Evaluation and Industry Guidance

 

IATA, in collaboration with its Slot Policy Working Group (SPWG), regularly reviews specific events that may justify the non-utilization of airport slots. These evaluations are conducted at an industry-wide level to determine whether the circumstances should be JNUS eligible.

The following IATA guidance papers are available for download:

JNUS Reporting

 

IATA is committed to improving transparency and consistency in the application of Justified Non-Utilization of Slots. We invite airlines to share their experiences—whether JNUS has been provided by a coordinator or not. Your feedback will help us identify gaps, promote best practices, and support more equitable slot management across the industry.

Please use this IATA JNUS Feedback Form to submit your input.