Alaska Airlines and Airspace Intelligence have signed a multi-year contract for the use of Flyways AI, an industry-changing platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to assist dispatchers in making flight operations more efficient and sustainable by optimizing routes and improving the predictability and flow of airline traffic. Alaska is the first airline worldwide to adopt the technology.
Alaska Airlines’ flight dispatchers are in charge of planning flight routes for the airline. Dispatchers must account for weather, turbulence and traffic volume. Flyways shows all that information on a dynamic 4D map. When it finds a better route, the system provides actionable recommendations to flight dispatchers who deliver the safest and most efficient route to pilots. The dispatcher decides whether to accept and implement the recommended solution or decline.
The use of an AI-powered flight monitoring and routing platform that aids in critical decisions is a first in the U.S. air transportation industry. It allows the airline and its employees to plan the most efficient routes by giving dispatchers new tools to make informed decisions quickly. Using machine-learning models of the National Airspace System, Flyways predicts future scenarios and manages exceptions network-wide by processing millions of data inputs quickly and with even greater precision.
"Flyways AI has transformed how Alaska Airlines approaches route planning and optimization, enabling our highly skilled dispatchers to work even smarter to deliver the safest and most efficient routes to our pilots, saving time and carbon emissions, mitigating congestion and creating a better experience for our guests," said Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president of public affairs and sustainability for Alaska Airlines. "Airspace Intelligence is a true partner in implementing Flyways to deliver results in Alaska's operating environment for innovation, safety and sustainability."
"We are so grateful that Alaska is the first airline customer to deploy the Flyways AI platform," said Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Airspace Intelligence. "Alaska's commitment to innovation and partnership these past two years made the organization a perfect fit as a foundational airline and launch partner.