New Technology May Cut Flight Delays Up to 60%
You don't need a comprehensive understanding of aviation mechanics to know that wind and airplanes aren't always best friends. "High winds" are one of the most frequently cited reasons for flight delays and cancellations, and headwinds in particular can cause major headaches when it comes time to landing an aircraft. But thanks to a new technology, that problem may soon become a thing of the past.
For the past 12 months, NATS — the U.K.'s national air traffic control service — and Lockheed Martin have been testing out a new technology at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) that is completely changing the way air traffic control deals with arriving aircraft in the face of strong headwinds.
Typically, planes are cleared for landing based on distance, maintaining a separation of five nautical miles between each arriving aircraft, which ensures that the earlier plane's "wake vortex" won't disrupt the next plane's landing. Throw some strong headwinds into that equation and you're bound to see a traffic jam occur, as landing against headwinds decreases an aircraft's ground speed, which in turn increases the time it takes for that five-mile separation to occur (and is probably the reason you've ended up circling an airport for an hour on occasion). But what NATS and its partners have discovered is that headwinds can actually speed up the landing process, as that dreaded vortex dissipates faster when winds are strong, rendering that five-mile distance unnecessary.
Using this information, NATS has created a time-based separation (TBS) system that automatically adjusts the landing schedule based on wind conditions.
The system, which air traffic controllers quietly began testing at Heathrow in March 2015, has already shown tremendous results. "In November alone we estimate that TBS saved 25,000 minutes of delay, despite winds of up to 60 knots on final approach," a NATS spokesperson told the Daily Mail Online. "On November 10, despite a 40-knot headwind, we had no flow regulations in place at all, something that would have been unthinkable before."
On average, Heathrow has been able to land 2.9 more aircraft per hour in high wind conditions using time-based separation, reducing wind-related delays from 3,000 hours to just 1,200 — an improvement of 60 percent.
The European Union has already approved the system for use, and they're not wasting any time in getting it implemented. While Heathrow continues with its trials, Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN) Airports will also adopt a TBS system, which the Daily Mail Online reports "could mean reduced delays for the 60 million passengers that pass through the three airports each year."
The system is expected to be rolled out to 16 airports across Europe and Istanbul, including Dublin (DUB), Frankfurt (FRA), Paris-Orly (ORY), Madrid (MAD), Amsterdam-Schiphol (AMS), and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) by 2024.
H/T: Daily Mail
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees