Case Study: Large U.S. Airport achieves improved winter operations and fewer delays with DTN Risk Communicator

How Risk Communicator helped a large U.S. airport improve winter operations

Large U.S. Airport, which handles more than 70 million passengers and over 600,000 flights a year, faced recurring winter-weather disruptions from snow, ice, freezing fog and high winds that harmed schedules, staffing and on-time performance. Finding free weather sites and other services insufficient for planning worst- and best-case scenarios, the airport engaged DTN’s Risk Communicator service for professional weather decision support.

DTN deployed Risk Communicator’s Prepare–Activate–Evaluate approach—pre-winter workshops, proactive engagement 7–10 days ahead of events, around-the-clock meteorologist support during storms, and post-event analyses—to deliver actionable forecasts and coordinated communications. As a result, the airport achieved clearer staffing decisions, reduced overtime, faster runway/tarmac/road clearing, fewer delays and cancellations, measurable cost savings and improved safety for passengers and staff, demonstrating DTN’s impact on winter operational resilience.