The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has boosted the coverage of its Turbulence Aware program in Latin America with the addition of Aeroméxico, which becomes the first major airline in the region to join the initiative.
What does this have to do with your next trip? More turbulence data, shared almost in real time between airlines, means safer and more comfortable flights. Here's how.
What is Turbulence Aware?
Turbulence Aware is a platform created by IATA in 2018 that collects anonymized turbulence reports from flights operated by more than 30 airlines worldwide. That data is shared almost instantly with all participating carriers.
In practice, thousands of aircraft equipped with sensors measure the intensity of turbulence at different altitudes and locations, and upload that information to a shared platform while still in flight. Pilots see it directly on their navigation map, with symbols showing where, at what altitude, and how intense the turbulence is further along the route.
What Aeroméxico brings
Aeroméxico's participation adds data from its fleet of 90 Boeing aircraft, complemented by Boeing technology that enables real-time weather and turbulence observations.
With this integration, turbulence-report coverage across the region now exceeds 3,200 flights per day, a 25% increase compared with 2024. Aeroméxico is also the first major Latin American airline to join the program.
According to Peter Cerda, IATA's Regional Vice President for the Americas: “Timely turbulence data helps airlines improve safety and passenger comfort. Each new airline joining Turbulence Aware makes its coverage more comprehensive, helping all participants. Aeromexico's participation is particularly significant as it is the first major carrier from the Latin American region to join.”
What it means for you as a passenger
More and better turbulence data gives crews room to anticipate. According to IATA, this lets pilots:
- Turn on the seatbelt sign in time, before entering a turbulent area.
- Adjust the route or altitude when operationally feasible, to avoid the roughest patches.
- Temporarily suspend in-flight service to protect passengers and crew.
The result: smoother and, above all, safer journeys. The usual advice still stands — keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you're seated, even when the sign is off.
You can read the official announcement in the IATA press release.
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