Če rešitev po odstavku 2 ni mogoča in ob upoštevanju prepovedi izkrivljanja konkurence med letalskimi prevozniki, ti ne smejo uporabljati fleksibilnosti iz člena 8(4), da bi pridobili eno ali več dodatnih frekvenc na ruti med popolnoma koordiniranim letališčem v okviru Skupnosti in letališčem v drugi državi članici, če drugi letalski prevoznik Skupnosti, ki mu je licenco podelila druga država članica, kljub doslednemu trudu v dveh urah pred ali po času, zahtevanem pri koordinatorju, ni uspel pridobiti slotov za pristajanje in vzletanje, ki bi se lahko razumno uporabili za pridobitev ene ali več dodatnih frekvenc na ruti.
Where a solution cannot be found under paragraph 2 and taking into account that competition between the air carriers concerned should not be distorted, an air carrier shall not be allowed to use the flexibility provided for in Article 8 (4) for the purpose of introducing one or more additional frequencies on a route between a fully coordinated airport within the Community and an airport in another Member State, if another Community air carrier, licensed by another Member State, has not been able, despite serious and consistent efforts, to obtain landing and departure slots which can reasonably be used for providing one or more additional frequencies on the route within two hours before or after the times requested of the coordinator.