Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) has signed a multi-year agreement with Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), reaching a significant milestone as the coordinator for a total of 80 airports worldwide.
From the 2026 winter season, ACL will be responsible for the full slot coordination at Romania's largest airport, which handled 17.7 million passengers and over 127,700 flight movements in 2025.
Bucharest Airport is therefore taking an unusual step by moving directly from uncoordinated operations to so-called Level 3 coordination, the highest level of slot management according to the EU's Slot Regulation and IATA's international guidelines.
This means that all airlines must have an approved slot time in order to operate at the airport. ACL, as the independent coordinator, will be responsible for the allocation of the times.
The purpose is to better manage the rapidly growing traffic and optimise the use of the airport's infrastructure.
Among the expected effects are:
- More efficient use of terminals, stand areas, and runways.
- Reduced congestion during peak hours.
- Improved punctuality.
- Fair and transparent allocation of slot times between airlines.
- Better conditions for continued growth.
– The implementation of Level 3 slot coordination will significantly strengthen our capacity management and create a better experience for both airlines and passengers, says Bogdan Mîndrescu, CEO of Bucharest Airports.
ACL's CEO Neil Garwood describes the mission as particularly significant as few airports go directly to full coordination.
– Bucharest's decision to implement Level 3 coordination is an important step during a period of strong demand growth. We are proud to have earned the trust to support this transition, he says.
Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport is Romania's largest international airport and serves as the country's main air hub. The airport has seen a significant increase in traffic in recent years, which has created a growing need for structured capacity management.
