The long-term narrative that there’s no space left for new domestic or international carriers at Sydney Airport is a fallacy, according to slot manager ACL Asia Pacific (ACL). ACL Chief Executive Neil Garwood says there’s significant take-off and landing slot availability except for weekday morning and evening peaks – 7am to 10am and 6pm to 7pm – when aircraft slot utilisation exceeds 95 per cent. Outside these times, he says ACL data reveals weekday slot utilisation averages just 67 per cent, giving carriers the opportunity to launch new flights provided they can make their schedules work. “We are already seeing increased demand from international carriers in particular and there is ample scope for further growth,” Garwood says. At present airline demand for Sydney Airport slots is lowest in the middle of the day and late in the evening when utilisation averages 45 per cent.