Airline industry works to improve communication about diversions

Dec. 1, 2011—Airline companies, airports and federal officials joined to create more efficient methods to handle weather-related flight diversions. On Nov. 30, Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials met with members of the airline industry to determine best practices for sharing information between airlines and airports during severe weather.

FAA recommends creating a website that has flight-diversion information, improving airport contingency plans (or guidelines for handling disasters), and building stronger communication between airlines and airports regarding flight diversions.

FAA says it plans to finalize and implement flight-diversion plans as soon as possible, but it didn’t provide a specific timeline.