These “ghost flights” are spooky for environmental reasons.

Controversial regulations are forcing British airlines to fly empty jets amid the coronavirus outbreak — or risk forfeiting vital airport slots, the Sunday Times reports. The “use it or lose it” rules governing European airports compel airlines to keep flying, even if it means burning five gallons of jet fuel per mile — and emitting more than a half-ton of carbon dioxide per seat — on empty flights.

Due to what’s known as the “80/20 rule,” airlines need to operate 80 percent of their allocated airport slots or a competitor can potentially snatch them during annual assessments by government officials, according to the European Commission guidelines. The rule is still applicable to the UK, with terms included in the Brexit agreement, the Sunday Times reports.

With coronavirus fears causing a massive spike in canceled flights and travel advisories, officials are now begging for an exception to the rule, to reduce “ghost flights,” which waste thousands of tons of jet fuel, damage airlines’ finances and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Map of coronavirus cases in the US

If the proposed exception is nixed, one airline rep tells the local outlet it would end up flying more than 5,200 empty seats in the next three weeks.

“Temporary suspension will enable UK airlines to respond to market conditions with appropriate capacity and avoiding any need to run empty flights in order to maintain slot rights,” said Tim Alderslade, chief executive of the UK airline trade body.

Even if a temporary suspension is granted, it is clear coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the airline industry. Some estimates report the industry will lose $113 billion in revenue due to the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus, which has infected more than 108,000 people across the world and caused at least 3,800 deaths.

The cruise industry is also taking a huge hit due to the outbreak, with the State Department warning Americans to stay off the ships. “US citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship,” the State Department said in a statement released Sunday.