Airline plans to improve flight management using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
EasyJet stated that they are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) at their new control center to improve flight management. Staff at the center, located near Luton Airport in Bedfordshire, can use Jetstream, an AI tool, to solve problems for pilots and ground crews faster. Johan Lundgren, the airline’s CEO, mentioned that these new facilities were ready just before the summer season. This means that they can handle flights more efficiently during the busy summer months.
The AI is said to predict the number of standby crew needed and suggest the best crew for each flight. There are over 250 employees at the control center, who handle easyJet’s daily schedule of around 2,000 flights. Their tasks include planning flight routes, assigning pilots and cabin crew, organizing aircraft maintenance, and communicating with passengers. This means they make sure everything runs smoothly for each flight, from planning to landing.
Mr. Lundgren mentioned that now the staff have a new and specially designed hub to work from. He explained that at easyJet, they realized early on how using data could improve the experience for customers, crew, and pilots. He noted that although you might not always notice it, technology is already working both in the air and on the ground to predict the exact amount of food and drinks needed for specific routes. He also said that AI helps in reducing food waste, making maintenance decisions in advance, and selecting the right aircraft based on demand. Mr. Lundgren added that they are committed to investing more in AI and expanding their knowledge and use of it.
