Permits and slots are two important elements in flight operations, and they are required for most charter flights.
A permit is an official authorization issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of a particular country that grants an aircraft the right to fly within its airspace. Depending on the flight routing, different permits may be required, such as overflight permits, landing permits, or military clearances. The process for obtaining permits can be complex, and it typically involves submitting detailed information about the aircraft, crew, passengers, and itinerary to CAA.
Some countries, such as Israel, Egypt, Azerbaijan, or Saudi Arabia, request to submit receiving party or local sponsor details. These refer to information about an individual or organization that is responsible for receiving and assisting a visitor or group of visitors in a foreign country and include passport details, legal address, phone number, email address, and in some cases, an invitation letter.
A slot is a reservation for a specific time opening at a particular airport, allowing an aircraft to take off or land during that time. Slots are usually required at busy airports to manage the flow of air traffic and prevent congestion on the runway. Obtaining a slot requires coordination with the airport authority or slot coordinator.
Slot-restricted airports are airports that limit the number of flight operations they can accommodate during certain periods, usually due to high demand and limited capacity. In order to manage the flow of air traffic and avoid congestion on the runway, these airports require airlines and operators to obtain slots that allow aircraft to take off or land at designated times.
Some examples of slot-restricted airports popular among VIP passengers are Geneva, Chambery, Zurich, Innsbruck, Vienna, Nice, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. Note that when planning an urgent trip to a slot-restricted airport, there is always a chance the flight will have to be scheduled according to slots offered by the airport.
PPR (or Prior Permission Required) is another type of flight approval by airport authorities. It involves requesting parking in advance because certain airports, for instance in Italy, have limited parking capacity. Getting PPR and slots can be especially difficult during the high season.