In October 2020, Air New Zealand will stop flights on the route Los Angeles - London Heathrow. At the same time, the national carrier from New Zealand will open the route Auckland - New York (Newark).
As it will withdraw from London Heathrow Airport, Air New Zealand has sold the slot held at one of the busiest airports in the world.
Air New Zealand has sold the London Heathrow slot
According to information in the Australian press, Air New Zealand sold the London Heathrow slot for $ 27 million. The transaction was completed at the end of January 2020. The amount obtained is higher than the estimate of 13-26 million dollars. But well below the amount paid by Oman Air to Air France - KLM, in 2016, worth $ 75 million. The slot sold by Air New Zealand is for 11:00 (arrival) and 15:00 (departure).
London Heathrow International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Annually, the main airport in the capital of England is transited by over 80 million passengers. In 2019, traffic at Heathrow was 80 passengers. And because it is close to full capacity, the slot carriers can market them. Regardless of the price paid, it is definitely a profitable business.