Bucharest Airport To Become Fully Slot Coordinated As Traffic Grows

Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) will move from uncoordinated status to full Level 3 slot coordination, reflecting the growing capacity pressures facing Romania’s largest gateway.

Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) has been appointed to provide Level 3 coordination services at OTP under a multiyear agreement beginning with the winter 2026-27 season on Oct. 25.

While airports typically progress from Level 1 (non-coordinated) to Level 2 (schedules facilitated) before becoming fully coordinated, ACL said June 8 that OTP will bypass the intermediary stage and move straight to Level 3 status, where airlines must obtain approved slots before operating.

“Airports rarely jump straight into full coordination, and doing so successfully requires experience, independence and trust,” ACL CEO Neil Garwood said.

The move comes as traffic growth continues to place increasing demands on the airport’s infrastructure. OTP handled 17.7 million passengers and more than 127,700 aircraft movements in 2025, according to airport figures cited by ACL.

Data from OAG Schedules Analyser shows that capacity at OTP has expanded significantly in recent years. Total departing seat capacity during the summer season has increased from about 5 million seats in summer 2022 to almost 6.4 million seats in summer 2026, representing growth of about 28%. During the same period, seasonal flight frequencies have risen from about 29,600 departures to nearly 35,000.

The airport’s growth has been driven largely by LCCs. Wizz Air accounts for approximately 36% of summer 2026 seat capacity, while Ryanair holds about 17%. Combined with Romanian flag carrier Tarom, the three airlines represent almost two-thirds of all seats offered from OTP this summer.

Wizz Air’s presence in particular has expanded rapidly. The data shows that the ULCC’s capacity at OTP has grown by more than 800,000 departure seats since summer 2022.

“The implementation of Level 3 slot coordination will significantly strengthen how we manage airport capacity, enabling more efficient use of infrastructure, improved punctuality, and a better experience for passengers and airlines alike,” Bucharest Airports CEO Bogdan Mîndrescu said.

The appointment also marks a milestone for ACL, bringing the company’s global portfolio to 80 coordinated airports.