When a plane circles before landing, it is often waiting for space at the airport rather than facing a technical problem or bad weather. This is called a holding pattern. In increasingly crowded skies, a storm, emergency or closed route can affect flights thousands of miles away.
The International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, wants countries to coordinate flight planning more closely. This UN agency promotes air traffic flow management, which brings airlines, airports, air traffic controllers and weather services together. If an airport cannot accept more planes, departures elsewhere can be delayed instead of leaving aircraft waiting in the air.
Although several countries already use this approach, its benefits are limited when national systems do not exchange information. Following five days of discussions in Montreal, governments and industry supported faster worldwide adoption. Passengers should receive earlier warnings about delays and cancellations, while flight schedules should recover more quickly after disruption.
ICAO-supported trials in the Americas saved over 265,000 minutes of flying time and more than $38.9 million in 2026. They also reduced fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions. Regional workshops are planned for 2027, and new international rules on managing flight flows are due in November 2030.
