The flights, defined as operating with less than 10% of passenger capacity, flew from 32 UK airports, The Guardian reports. Heathrow was top with 4,910 between March 2020 and September 2021, with Manchester and Gatwick next.
The flights operated during the suspension of the “use it or lose it” rule meaning they did not have to be flown to keep the slot open.
However, many will have been carrying heavy cargo loads as well as some passengers, something the data does not show.
The situation peaked at Heathrow in April 2021, when 554 flights fell into the 10% category.
Data was revealed in a written answer to a question to aviation and maritime minister Robert Courts.
Courts said new legislation meant airlines “will not be required to operate slots where markets are substantively closed to passenger traffic”.
