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Why are 'ghost flights' causing controversy?

Hundreds of empty and nearly empty planes take off every day. Now, some groups are calling on airlines to end their ghost flights.

HOUSTON — Why are ghost flights causing controversy?

Ghost flights are empty or nearly empty airplanes flying their regular route.

And they are not a rare occurrence. A report in the British newspaper Guardian found there are 500 ghost flights in the United Kingdom every month. 

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The reason airlines bother with these flights is to keep precious landing and departing slots. It’s a complicated system but, basically, airlines need to secure slots at airports for take-off and landing. 

At some high traffic airports like Heathrow, those slots are incredibly valuable. And airlines must use those slots 80 percent of the time to keep them. So even when they sell little or no tickets, airlines will still run those flights. 

When the pandemic hit, the threshold was lowered to 50 percent but that still resulted in hundreds of ghost flights.

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Now, environmental groups are calling for an end to the practice, pointing to the wasted jet fuel and emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). 

Greenpeace recently called ghost flights absurd and revolting. 

The head of low-cost carrier Ryanair said airlines should be forced to sell seats on ghost flights for a deep discount. 

As of April 5, a British petition to end ghost flights has close to 16,000 signatures.

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