A trial of tools designed to provide air traffic controllers with live weather data has revealed that the technology is capable of reducing flight delays by up to 65%.
The proof-of-concept, aimed at supplying data to controllers which is already used by pilots and airline dispatchers, was developed by DSNA, France’s air navigation service provider, in partnership with SITA, a company specialising in IT and air transport communications.
Tested for 21 days from July to October 2025 at Reims Area Control Centre, SITA’s Enhanced Weather Awareness System (eWAS) and Mission Watch allowed flow managers to anticipate weather shifts more accurately, saving an estimated 60,000 to 105,000 minutes which would otherwise have been lost to delays.
Moreover, the handling of 2,700 extra flights at an average en-route charge of €750 (US $868) per flight raised approximately €2.02 million ($2.3 million) in additional revenue, according to SITA.
Originally developed for airlines, this innovative technology comes at a time in which instances of extreme weather that were once unprecedented, known as hazardous meteorological events (HMEs), are becoming both more frequent and intense.
Unpredictable weather, including storms and turbulence, can cause thousands of delays each year, with real-time collection and sharing of meteorological data from aircraft touted as one of the most promising solutions to this phenomenon.
Such data is often not shared in real time, or is otherwise not used due to high costs.
Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, said: “Our collaboration with DSNA shows what can be achieved when everyone in aviation shares the same live picture of the sky.
“When controllers, pilots, and dispatchers all see accurate, real-time weather information, they can plan and adapt together. That means fewer delays, smoother operations, and safer flights for passengers.”
As a result of the trial’s success, DSNA will continue to work with SITA to develop the tools according to the needs of air navigation service providers.
