The airport co-ordination slots team states that you must operate 80% of your alotted slots or risk losing them. It was predicted that there would be a 20% cutback so it appears to me that there is perhaps not as much panic as some thought. BA's AGM yesterday has reported a similar situation 'not cutting back on to many services'? The real issue here is just what happens with the bookings as we get well into the winter season.
Apart from all this once again to fly a/c almost empty for the sake of the slot reflects the stupudity of our industry and its total lack of flexibility. Airlines should be at least able to retain slots for a period despite canx services (perhaps the complete season).