Data on Turbulence now being shared widely - Intensive Turbulence Information Network
Improving Air Travel with IATA's Turbulence Aware Program
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) introduced a groundbreaking platform named Turbulence Aware in December 2018, aiming to revolutionise the airline industry by harnessing the power of "big data". This platform allows airlines to share and utilise real-time turbulence data, enhancing flight safety and providing better turbulence warnings.
The program covers a vast part of the world, with notable members such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air France, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, EasyJet, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Southwest, Swiss, and WestJet participating in the turbulence data sharing program.
Turbulence Aware is designed to make turbulence predictions easier, allowing pilots to see turbulence points and their level on a route instantly. This feature enables small changes in the plane's route to avoid turbulence, resulting in smoother flights for passengers and reducing the risk of turbulence-related injuries.
The platform's development is a collaborative effort between IATA and Snowflake Software. By anonymously sharing turbulence data between airlines, the program ensures the privacy of commercial operations while reaping the benefits of collective knowledge.
The Turbulence Aware program has already demonstrated significant improvements in air travel. By reducing turbulence encounters, injuries, and maintenance costs, the program contributes to a safer and more efficient airline industry. Moreover, by decreasing fuel losses caused by speed loss due to turbulence and carbon emissions related to these incidents, the program also helps in reducing the environmental impact of air travel.
The program's importance is underscored by the increasing number of turbulence incidents linked to climate change. As the aviation industry continues to grow, programs like Turbulence Aware will become increasingly vital for ensuring flight safety and managing operational costs.
Currently, EasyJet, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways are part of the Turbulence Aware program, with Etihad Airways joining recently in mid-2025. As the program continues to expand, it promises a brighter future for air travel, ensuring smoother, safer, and more efficient flights for passengers worldwide.
The Turbulence Aware program, initiated by IATA, involves collaboration with Snowflake Software in the aerospace industry, leveraging data-and-cloud-computing and finance in its operation, to ensure a safer and more efficient airline industry. The platform shares real-time turbulence data among participating airlines such as EasyJet, Qatar Airways, and those in the finance sector. This collective effort results in reduced turbulence encounters, injuries, maintenance costs, fuel losses, and carbon emissions, making air travel greener and safer.
