Icarus2001 - I can see only two possibilities. Either there is other traffic that you are not aware of, or PH ATC are waging an extended campaign of malicious unnecessary speed reduction! Tinfoil hat or occam's razor?
I totally agree with the rest though. Ground delays and 50 minutes holding is not having a bet both ways it's extracting the urine. There are three problems though;
1. What to do with aircraft that are late? If you miss your slot by five mintes, and the next available slot is over two hours later (not uncommon) do we hold you for two hours, or fit you in and delay the next two hours worth of arrivals by one slot?
2. The current procedures only allow early aircraft to be "de-prioritised" by the published holding time, which may well be less than the ground delay given.
3. Worst, and I've actually had this happen.
- Aircraft gets 20 minutes of holding.
- Aircraft tells me, as per traffic notam, is only carrying 15 minutes holding.
- Flow won't bring aircraft forward in sequence unless declaring fuel emergency.
- Aircraft declines to declare emergency because is carrying published holding fuel.
- Ask aircraft for alternate, advises not holding one.
- Stalemate.