Airline to 'better manage' flights with AI use

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) at easyJet's new control centre has allowed its operations teams to better manage flights, the airline said. Personnel based at the integrated control centre near Luton Airport, Bedfordshire, have access to Jetstream, a generative AI tool. It helps them solve issues for pilots and crews on the ground more quickly, easyJet said. The airline's chief executive, Johan Lundgren, said the new facilities came just in time for summer. The AI would predict standby crew requirements and recommend the best crew options for each operation, it was claimed. More than 250 staff work in the control centre, managing easyJet's daily programme of about 2,000 flights. Their responsibilities included planning routes, allocating pilots and cabin crew, arranging aircraft maintenance and passenger communications.Mr Lundgren said staff could now benefit from a "modern and bespoke" hub to work from. "At easyJet, we saw the potential early on for data to improve customer experience and operational efficiency which could help us provide a better flying experience for our customers, crew and pilots," he said. "And while you can't always see it, the technology is already hard at work in the air and on the ground helping us predict exactly what food and drink we need for certain routes." He said AI helped to reduce food waste, aid predictive maintenance decisions and help choose the right aircraft to match demand. "We continue to invest in and deepen our knowledge and use of AI," Mr Lundgren added.