A compressor bleed slot apparatus includes: an annular compressor casing; a stator vane row including a plurality of stator vanes disposed inside the compressor casing; a blade row mounted for rotation about a centerline axis inside the compressor casing, axially downstream of the stator row; a bleed slot passing through the compressor casing, the bleed slot having an inlet and an outlet and extending along a slot axis, wherein the bleed slot is bounded by inboard and outboard walls defined within the compressor casing, the inboard and outboard walls diverging from each other in a downstream direction relative to the bleed slot; and a plurality of turning vanes disposed in the slot, the turning vanes configured to reduce a tangential velocity of airflow through the bleed slot.