The commercial aviation industry is constantly defined by innovation, and carriers that are able to successfully embrace new technologies are often those able to gain an edge over the competition. In a market where firms return to wafer-thin profit margins, the opportunity to explore the advantages of improved software cannot be passed up.

Undeniably, the advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which took the world by storm in the past twelve months, has begun to shape the airline industry as a whole. Airlines that have been able to implement the use of AI systems have been able to streamline costs and drastically improve operational efficiencies.

For airlines who want to survive in the competitive market, adopting AI technology is not an exciting new opportunity to explore, but rather a necessity in order to maintain a competitive position within the industry. In this article, we will take a deeper look at how carriers are using AI in day-to-day operations.

Operational management

All major US airlines have begun the process of exploring the opportunities that generative AI can bring, including major legacy carriers like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and JetBlue. According to Vaughn College, AI technology is critical to managing fuel consumption by navigating complex weather patterns and traffic conditions.

With fuel being any airlines largest and most variable operating cost, carriers will go to great lengths to ensure reductions in fuel consumption. Consequently, airlines will end up reducing carbon emissions in the process, a victory for sustainable initiatives in the industry.

AI technology has also been time-proven, with multiple industry case studies already demonstrating the results such systems can have. By using AI to better predict winds that blow from the northeast to southwest in Switzerland, flag carrier Swiss International Airlines was able to reduce flight delays and cancelations at its primary hub by over 30%. According to Forbes, this saved $5.4 million in the process.

Benefits to the passenger experience

Those set to benefit from the increased implementation of AI tools are not restricted to corporate executives and shareholders but include everyday airline passengers themselves. By reducing delays through predictive route planning, passengers are significantly less likely to encounter missed connections, according to an analysis of Virgin Atlantic’s AI passenger management system by Forbes.

Generative AI was one of the key themes of the 2023 Paris Air Show, with Aviation International News reporting that a number of European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations now included provisions supporting the increased use of AI-based instruments. AI can help optimize fleet performance and manage maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) cycles to minimize operational interruptions.

Even in the skies, passengers will be able to reap the benefits of AI technology, specifically when it comes to reducing the level of turbulence an aircraft encounters. Predicting turbulence patterns can be challenging, but with the assistance of advanced AI tools, pilots can best predict the routes that will both avoid unfavorable gusts and ensure that the aircraft arrives at its destination as efficiently as possible. Furthermore, these predictive technologies will reduce the damage to an airframe, requiring fewer shop visits and even more infrequent delays.