Alaska Airlines has renewed its partnership with Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to further integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its flight operations. The collaboration will use ASI’s Flyways AI Platform to improve flight path optimization and reduce emissions.
The Flyways AI Platform analyses pertinent flight data such as weather, wind, turbulence, and other factors such as airspace restrictions and traffic density using AI and machine learning.
Alaska Airlines achieves significant fuel reductions using AI
According to the report, the platform provides recommended routes to the dispatchers and the pilots. These recommendations are aimed at increasing safety, meeting air traffic control requirements, conserving fuel, reducing flight times, and avoiding areas of high traffic density.
Alaska Airlines has been using the Flyways AI Platform and the Flyways Dispatch application for the last four years in order to optimize flight routes and enhance operational productivity. It has also helped cut down on fuel usage and carbon emissions.
The Flyways AI Platform helped conserve over 1.2 million gallons of fuel in 2023 only. This reduction is equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions by about 11,958 megatons. The airline has listed these savings as important for the achievement of its short-term objective of being the most fuel-efficient US airline by 2025.
The Flyways Dispatch application is designed to provide real-time information and decision support that can help dispatchers in their operations. This tool enables early intervention measures in case of events that may affect flight operations. Alaska Airlines’ Managing Director of Network Operations Control, Captain Bret Peyton, has pointed out that the Flyways AI is an essential tool for the airline’s dispatchers.
Major airlines adopt AI for various operational improvements
A number of airlines are already in the process of using generative AI to change the way that their business is conducted. Recently, easyJet, a British airline, began to incorporate generative AI into its work procedure. The newest of the lot is Jetstream, where pilots and the crew can have a quick view of the company policies. Delta Air Lines has also incorporated the use of AI to forecast the time it takes for an aircraft to be transported to the yard for service.
AirAsia has also adopted the use of chatbots in the booking process and in attending to the clients’ complaints. Lufthansa uses AI to manage data to improve fuel efficiency and, hence, reduce CO2 emissions. Emirates recently partnered with Amazon Web Services to develop an extended reality platform for cabin crew training. Air India’s Virtual Agent, Maharaja, handles customer queries in various ways.