3.1M views · Jul 19, 2018 · 4:57 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2020–2022
Half as Interesting explains why airlines flew empty 'ghost flights' out of Heathrow to keep their landing slots under use-it-or-lose-it rules.
Why Hacker News points people here: Cited to show that empty slot-keeping flights predate COVID and Lufthansa's recent practice.
“where an airline was flying empty planes to hold their slot at Heathrow”
Airline flew empty planes to hold Heathrow slots.
Probably filling seats on unpopular routes that they would have to fly anyway. Perhaps in a similar situation to what's described in this video , where an airline was flying empty planes to hold their slot at Heathrow.
“it's not a new practice it's just been exacerbated due to COVID-19.”
Empty flights to keep slots predate COVID.
Yep. Featured on HAI a year ago, it's not a new practice it's just been exacerbated due to COVID-19. this video
“This existed pre-COVID but is more of a thing now.”
Pre-COVID explanation of empty flights to Heathrow to keep slots.
This existed pre-COVID but is more of a thing now. See Half as Interesting - Why Heathrow Airport Had Empty Flights to Nowhere (3 years ago, pre-covid) this video RealLifeLore2 also covered the same topic as the original submission: link
