Regulators in Asian hubs like Hong Kong have threatened to retaliate against European Union plans to force airlines to start using takeoff and landing slots frozen during the coronavirus pandemic, a move that could oblige Europe’s carriers to fly empty seats for thousands of miles at a loss.
Authorities controlling slots at major Asian airports are ready to slap similar ‘use it or lose it’ conditions on European carriers flying to Asia’s cities—raising the prospect of an industry trade war over the uneven impact of COVID-19.
