Planning a trip can be complex with so many factors to consider, including weather, routes, timing and efficiency. Here at Alaska, we sift through tons of data to ensure each flight is safe and efficient. As part of our ongoing efforts to innovate and provide our guests with a great travel experience, we have renewed our partnership with Air Space Intelligence (ASI). They use artificial intelligence to optimize flight paths and reduce emissions through their Flyways AI platform.
ASI’s Flyways AI platform uses advanced algorithms and machine learning to analyze large amounts of data, including weather patterns, winds, turbulence, airspace restrictions, and air traffic volumes. Flyways AI then generates optimized route recommendations for dispatchers and pilots that are safe and ATC compliant, minimize fuel consumption, reduce flight time, and avoid potentially congested airspace. In addition, the Flyways Dispatch application provides real-time insights and decision support to our dispatchers, enabling them to proactively manage flights and respond to events before they potentially impact flights.
Being a dispatcher requires attention to detail, problem-solving skills and the ability to think quickly. Our incredible dispatchers are responsible for planning and monitoring each flight, ensuring the safety and comfort of our guests and crew. “It can be challenging to deal with unpredictable factors like weather, traffic and scheduling, but we always strive to find the best solutions,” said Captain Bret Peyton, general manager of network operations control at Alaska Airline. “That’s why we’re grateful to have Flyways AI to optimize our routes, save fuel and reduce carbon emissions. Flyways AI gives us more confidence and flexibility in our decisions and allows us to focus on providing excellent service to our guests.”
Over the past four years, we have used the Flyways AI platform and dispatch application in our Network Operations Center to optimize flight routes, reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, and improve on-time arrivals. On average, Flyways AI has provided optimization opportunities for 55 percent of flights in Alaska, delivering fuel savings and emissions reductions of three to five percent on flights longer than four hours. Last year, we saved over 1.2 million gallons of fuel, equivalent to 11,958 megatons of carbon emissions, through optimized routes with Flyways. The savings Flyways delivers help us move toward our short-term goal of being the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline by 2025 and our long-term goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
We are excited to continue working with ASI to expand the use of Flyways AI across our network and explore new ways to use AI to improve our operations and service. We believe Flyways is revolutionizing the aviation industry and is a win-win for our guests, our employees and our planet.
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