Planes sometimes fly in circles before they land. This does not always mean bad weather or a problem with the plane. Often, the airport has no room for them to land yet. A storm, an emergency or a closed flight route can cause delays thousands of kilometres away.
The UN’s air travel agency, ICAO, wants countries to plan flights together more closely. Busy airports can ask other airports to make planes wait before they leave. Airlines, airports, people who guide flights and weather teams share information to make these decisions. Several countries already do this, but they do not always share information across borders.
Governments and air travel businesses supported faster action after five days of talks in Montreal. The plan should give passengers earlier news about delays and cancelled flights. It should also help flights return to normal more quickly after problems. Sharing information is important, but some countries lack the tools to send it immediately.
Tests in the Americas saved over 265,000 minutes of flying time in 2026. They also saved more than $38.9 million and used less fuel. ICAO plans regional meetings to help countries prepare in 2027. New international rules for managing the flow of flights are due in November 2030.
