Japan Airlines enhances weather safety amid airport disruptions

Severe thunderstorms and low pressure systems have caused significant travel disruptions at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. Due to delayed arrival flights from locations such as Haneda, many passengers were stranded overnight, facing long queues for buses and taxis as JR train services were unavailable until morning.

In response to increasingly frequent extreme weather, Japan Airlines (JAL) is implementing new safety measures. At Haneda Airport, the group has introduced mobile trailer houses to serve as emergency shelters for ground handling staff during lightning storms and as cooling stations during extreme heat. These solar-powered units are equipped with air conditioning and waterproof flooring.

Additionally, JAL has begun using 'Lilac,' an AI-driven system designed to predict lightning strike risks. The system identifies high-risk areas that standard weather radar might miss, allowing pilots to adjust flight paths to avoid potential lightning strikes, thereby reducing aircraft damage and operational delays.