Abstract: An apparatus advantageously influences the wing root airflow along the wing root of an aircraft having a high lift system including leading edge slats provided on the main wings. The apparatus includes a respective vortex generator arranged on the inboard end of each leading edge slat in the area of the wing root, and further includes a respective transition fairing arranged on a separation edge that is let into the leading edge of the wing root and that borders along the inboard edge of the respective slat. The vortex generator is a rigid member fixed to the leading edge slat and may be in the shape of a horn, a disk, or a winglet. The transition fairing may be a rigid member fixed to the wing root along the separation edge, or may be a flexible elastic member that can be inflated to have a variable outer contour. The present system avoids the need of additional independently movable auxiliary flaps, and thus achieves a reduced weight, complexity, and maintenance requirement.