Artificial Intelligence in Aviation

AI has the potential to transform the aviation industry in many ways, such as improving safety, efficiency, and customer experience. For example, AI can help airlines optimize their pricing strategies, predict and prevent maintenance issues, and enhance flight operations and air traffic management. AI can also help airports streamline their operations, security, and passenger services, and provide travelers with personalized and seamless journeys.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the aviation industry in many ways, including improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability:

• Safety
• Efficiency
• Sustainability

Applications of AI in aviation, using real examples to understand its impact.

Revenue Management

AI algorithms analyze data, predict demand, and adjust ticket prices, boosting overall revenue. This technology considers historical data, booking patterns, and customer preferences to set optimal seat prices based on factors like day, season, and weather. Delta Airlines employs AI-powered revenue management systems to dynamically set fares.

Air Safety and Airplane Maintenance

Artificial intelligence is tackling the challenge of unplanned maintenance, which accounted for more than 7% of flight delays in 2023. Using AI capabilities, the aviation industry can enhance air safety through data analysis from diverse sources like aircraft sensors, flight data recorders, and weather inputs. This helps to identify potential safety concerns, raising overall safety standards.

AI-powered predictive maintenance solutions enable airlines to track aircraft components in real-time, forecast faults, and plan repairs before they become crucial. This proactiveness reduces downtime, cuts repair costs, and improves operational efficiency. General Electric’s AI system, “Predix,” is a real-world example of this. Predix empowers GE Aviation Fleet Support to handle a higher volume of engine data more swiftly and accurately, significantly boosting diagnostic capabilities.

Feedback Analysis

Customer feedback is crucial for airlines and now artificial intelligence can help the industry to understand it better. For example, AI-driven sentiment analysis tools, like PureStrategy leveraging Automated Neural Intelligence Engine (ANIE) can be used to sift through various feedback channels like social media, blog posts, comments, customer review sites, and surveys to detect patterns, sentiments, and recurring themes.

This proactive approach empowers airlines to gain valuable insights into customer experiences, allowing them to address issues promptly and continually enhance their services.

Messaging Automation

Messaging automation is becoming a key tool in the aviation industry, improving customer service. Airlines are using it to quickly answer questions and streamline their operations. Passengers now receive automatic updates about flight times, gate changes, and other important information, saving time and keeping them well-informed.

AI-powered solutions like chatbots are a good way to get started with messaging automation. AI chatbots adeptly handle diverse queries — flight bookings, baggage concerns, and real-time flight updates. A real-world example of this is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ “BlueBot” which was launched in 2017. This AI-powered chatbot has been assisting customers with flight bookings, reservation management, and travel information to date.

Crew Management

For airline passengers, the use of AI in crew scheduling means more reliable and efficient flights. AI helps airlines ensure that the right crew members, with the right skills and experience, are available for each flight. This reduces delays, improves safety, and enhances the overall travel experience. Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) recently inked a five-year deal to transition its crew management systems to IBS Software’s iFlight Crew. According to their website, iFlight Crew is a modern cloud platform designed to optimize airline operations and crew management, leveraging AI and machine learning.

Fuel Efficiency Optimization

AI plays a key role in boosting fuel efficiency in the airline industry, given the substantial impact of fuel costs on overall expenses. By analyzing factors like weather, flight routes, aircraft performance, and passenger load, AI algorithms optimize fuel consumption. AirAsia, for example, uses OptiClimb, a fuel efficiency solution. This tool uses machine learning algorithms and advanced weather forecasts to predict fuel consumption. It suggests optimal climb speeds during takeoff, saving up to 3% of fuel per flight.

Selling Tickets

For travelers, AI-driven recommendation engines in ticketing mean a more personalized and convenient booking experience. These systems suggest tickets based on your past travel choices, preferences, and budget, making it easier to find flights that suit your needs. This technology not only helps with finding better deals but also simplifies the booking process.

A great example is the collaboration between Elemental Cognition and Oneworld Alliance, which developed an AI tool for planning and booking “Round the World” (RTW) tickets. This tool makes it simpler and more efficient for travelers to book complex trips with multiple destinations across Oneworld Alliance’s member airlines.

In-Flight Sales and Food Supply

Airlines can also use AI to personalize in-flight meals based on customers’ preferences and dietary restrictions, thanks to innovative algorithms predicting demand. AI is also applicable in reducing catering waste.

Airbus is developing such a program called Food Scanner. This AI-powered tool is equipped with a downward-looking camera and barcode scanner. It tracks and manages in-flight catering, capturing meal tray contents and monitoring beverage inventory before and after serving. The data processed through a cloud-hosted dashboard generates key performance indicators, enabling accurate catering planning and preflight meal ordering for passengers, ultimately reducing waste.

Fraud Detection

AI plays a crucial role in aviation fraud detection, minimizing risks associated with fraudulent activities. By analyzing extensive transaction data, AI algorithms swiftly pinpoint suspicious patterns and highlight potential fraud. A good example is the Airlines Reporting Corporation’s (ARC) Risk Check, which employs AI algorithms to scrutinize over 3 billion data elements, uncovering instances of fraudulent activity in travel bookings.

AI at the Airport: Innovation on the Ground

Artificial intelligence in aviation is not just revolutionizing the skies but also making a big impact on the ground for airlines. Let’s dive into how it transforms the airport experience.

Enhanced Security

For passengers, using AI-driven biometrics and facial recognition in airlines means a smoother and more secure travel experience. These technologies speed up the identification process while enhancing security measures. AI accurately matches fingerprints or facial features with identities, minimizing the chances of fraud and enhancing safety. The expected 78% increase in biometric self-boarding gates by 2030 highlights the efficiency and security benefits of this technology.

Furthermore, AI’s real-time analysis of security footage helps in quickly identifying any suspicious activities, leading to faster responses to potential threats.

Logistics and Operations

The adoption of AI technologies in airports translates to a smoother and more efficient journey. Automated check-in systems speed up the process, reducing wait times while virtual assistants powered by AI provide passengers with flight updates and navigate them through the airport.

AI is also employed to track and manage baggage, minimizing errors and improving the accuracy of baggage delivery. Eindhoven Airport, for example, uses an innovative AI-powered luggage-handling system called “BagsID” — no tags are needed. Passengers snap a picture of their luggage, drop it off, and retrieve it hassle-free at their destination. This innovative AI system tracks bags using photo recognition. It’s a game-changer for efficient and error-free airport experiences.

Customer Service

Curious about how AI improves customer experience at airports? AI is integrated in Chatbots and virtual assistants, powered by natural language processing (which is a part of ML). They enable passengers to interact effortlessly with airport staff using voice or text commands, reducing wait times, and making the customer experience smoother. AI algorithms also enhance the travel experience by leveraging individual passenger preferences. Analyzing data like past travel patterns, preferences, and frequent flyer status allows these algorithms to offer personalized recommendations.

The Future of AI in Aviation

While AI will not be replacing pilots just yet, it will play a key role in the future of the aviation industry. Key aspects include:

Predictive Pricing

AI-powered predictive pricing is on the rise and will continue to grow. By crunching extensive data, including personal preferences and real-time market trends, AI algorithms enable airlines to provide personalized travel experiences and competitive fares for each passenger. Virgin Atlantic, in collaboration with Fetcherr, is already using this technology to dynamically adjust pricing based on predicted market variables, optimizing operations and revenue. Expect more airlines to embrace this “generative pricing engine” to maximize their revenue systems.

Sustainable Flights

Aviation contributes 2% to global energy-related CO2 emissions. The International Air Transport Association, however, is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, and artificial intelligence will make that possible. By leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning, airlines can make smart decisions on flight routes, fuel use, and operations. This data-driven approach minimizes carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability goals and fast-tracking the industry’s shift to a greener future.

Better Aircraft Health Systems

Smart aircraft health systems, powered by AI, will become increasingly popular. These systems analyze data from the onboard sensors of aircraft, spotting potential issues early on for proactive maintenance. This predictive approach will cut down on unscheduled maintenance, reduce aircraft downtime, and boost safety. According to Deloitte, this type of predictive maintenance could cut aircraft operational costs by as much as 25%, as well as prevent disruptions that could lead to fatal losses.

Optimized Flight Routes

According to Investopedia, fuel is the second biggest expenditure by airlines, accounting for 22% of operational expenses. This huge spending on aviation fuel can be attributed to route planning influenced by air traffic, and weather changes. In the coming months and years, airlines will increasingly leverage AI platforms and tools to change this narrative.

These platforms use historical data and predictions to provide quick insights, analyzing vast amounts of information like weather patterns, air traffic, and past flight data. The result? Optimized routes that not only save fuel but also cut down on delays. AI-based route planning adapts in real-time, dynamically adjusting to enhance efficiency and cut overall flight time.

As can be seen, artificial intelligence in the airline industry holds great promise. As technology continues to advance, this industry is likely to witness further transformative changes driven by AI applications.

The Incredible Way AI will impact Airlines

Some of the key challenges that AI faces in aviation are:

• Data management: Aviation generates huge amounts of data from various sources, such as aircraft sensors, air traffic control systems, weather reports, passenger information, and more. Integrating and harmonizing these diverse datasets into a unified and reliable source for analysis is a major challenge for AI applications.
• Scalability and safety: Aviation systems involve human decision-making potentially alongside AI, and require rigorous validation and verification processes to ensure safety and compliance. AI systems must be able to explain how they reach their decisions and recommendations, and be audited and monitored for their performance and behaviour.
• Reward functions and side effects: AI systems can be driven by complex reward functions that define their objectives and motivate their actions. However, designing the semantics that capture the desired outcomes while avoiding unintended consequences is hard in a complex environment like aviation, where there are many interrelated factors and trade-offs.
• Data distribution shift: AI models are trained on specific datasets, but may encounter different real-world data when they are deployed. This can lead to a mismatch between the expected and actual behaviour of the AI system, and compromise its accuracy and reliability. For example, an AI system that sets ticket prices based on historical demand may fail to account for second order behaviour change by the actors in the system – such as customers responding to a pricing strategy.

Adopting AI in aviation brings numerous benefits, but it also poses challenges. Here are a few of these risks and challenges.

1. Technical Hurdles: Integrating AI into aviation systems is not straightforward, there are technical challenges to be overcome. Ensuring it works well with different hardware and software across various aircraft models and manufacturers can be difficult.

2. Ethical Considerations: Determining the extent of autonomy for AI decision-making, especially in critical situations, triggers ethical questions that need careful consideration.

3. Workforce Challenges: AI needs a skilled team for development, maintenance, and operation. Bridging the skills gap by training aviation professionals is a big task. And the shift to AI might worry some about job security. Handling these concerns and offering retraining options is crucial for a smooth transition.

4. Regulatory Challenges: The aviation industry has strict rules and introducing AI means playing by those rules. Adapting regulations to tackle the new challenges posed by AI in the aviation industry can be demanding.

Airlines are leveraging AI and ML to enjoy a wide range of benefits. Here are two real-life use cases as examples.

Delta Airline

In 2021, Delta introduced facial recognition technology at airport touchpoints, optimizing the travel experience for passengers. Using just a passport number, the Fly Delta app, and TSA PreCheck membership, passengers can enjoy a seamless, touchless process—scanning their faces instead of presenting physical IDs and boarding passes. In October of the same year, Delta further expanded its AI adoption by introducing biometric-powered bag-drop technologies.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines, a major US carrier, leverages AI in key aspects of its operations. In sentiment analysis, advanced software tracks keywords on the web, allowing the airline to monitor social media mentions and analyze user sentiment. This insight aids in staying updated on trends and tailoring personalized offers for customers.

Additionally, Southwest uses a flight analytics system by GE Aviation to enhance fuel efficiency for its extensive Boeing 737 fleet. The platform helps them analyze flight data and optimize fuel consumption during each journey.

Future of AI in Aircraft Maintenance

Artificial intelligence aviation not only improves air service and ground operations but also shows great potential in aircraft maintenance.

As we have already discussed, a key future trend is predictive maintenance. But beyond that, AI will also transform inventory management by accurately predicting spare part demand through data analysis. This optimizes inventory, lowers costs, and prevents stockouts. Additionally, AI helps detect counterfeit parts, ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft components.

Integration of sensors, IoT devices, and AI-equipped robotics will further enhance maintenance operations, providing accurate real-time data and performing complex tasks in challenging areas.

Innovative AI Applications Transforming Today's Airports ?

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across various industries, offering cost-effective solutions to boost productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Now, airports worldwide are harnessing the power of AI, machine learning, algorithms, and other cutting-edge technologies to provide tailored services, elevate the passenger experience, and optimize operational processes. ?

The airport of the future promises a seamless end-to-end journey, where touch-free identity checks enhance both security and passenger satisfaction. AI is driving a multitude of advancements within airports, including self-service kiosks, AI-powered facial recognition systems, AI chatbots, and streamlined security checkpoints. It's also reducing passenger wait times and enhancing safety through the use of thermal cameras and real-time translation devices. ?

With its exceptional data processing capabilities and task streamlining prowess, AI is rapidly gaining ground in airport operations. It's not just about convenience but also about making air travel safer and more efficient than ever before. Here are some examples; ?

Recommendation Engine for Revenue Management ?

One of the ways artificial intelligence is used at airports is in the recommendation engines. Recommendation engines are common in popular online services from Netflix to Amazon and you will find them in countless travel-booking providers as well. The AI platform analyzes historical data of the passenger like past reservations, behavior-tracking techniques, metadata, purchase history and real-time data to highly personalized offers to passengers, increasing retention and a customer’s lifetime value. ?

Enhancing Passenger Experience with AI Chatbots ?

Bots can direct users to specific services or outlets, provide flight information updates and more, freeing up staff to focus on activities that are more valuable and reducing human contact. Chatbots and customer service automation is human-like, understands simple questions and responds in a casual, conversational style. Using chatbots, airports can provide 24/7 customer assistance and reduce human contact. ?

Easy Baggage Screening ?

Passenger checked baggage is screened more efficiently using an Artificial Intelligence-based, robotic assisted convenience system, which quickly troubleshoots and diverts high-risk baggage for deeper inspection. Today’s AI-powered facial recognition solutions for live video give insights into how individuals are moving through the space and enable much faster access. ?

Improving Security: Facial Recognition and Thermal Cameras ?

Facial recognition and fever detector AI Thermal cameras used for detecting passenger with fever. AI-based video analytics uses algorithms and computer vision technology to look at video feeds, commonly taken from cameras to detect patterns and trends. The analysis happens in real-time and delivers actionable intelligence such as crowd gathering, people’s emotions and behaviors, general heat mapping, etc. ?

As consumers become more familiar with high level of customization gained through AI, other businesses arefacial recognition systems, AI chatbots, and streamlined security checkpoints. It's also reducing passenger wait times and enhancing safety through the use of thermal cameras and real-time translation devices. ?

With its exceptional data processing capabilities and task streamlining prowess, AI is rapidly gaining ground in airport operations. It's not just about convenience but also about making air travel safer and more efficient than ever before. Here are some examples; ?

Recommendation Engine for Revenue Management ?

One of the ways artificial intelligence is used at airports is in the recommendation engines. Recommendation engines are common in popular online services from Netflix to Amazon and you will find them in countless travel-booking providers as well. The AI platform analyzes historical data of the passenger like past reservations, behavior-tracking techniques, metadata, purchase history and real-time data to highly personalized offers to passengers, increasing retention and a customer’s lifetime value. ?

Enhancing Passenger Experience with AI Chatbots ?

Bots can direct users to specific services or outlets, provide flight information updates and more, freeing up staff to focus on activities that are more valuable and reducing human contact. Chatbots and customer service automation is human-like, understands simple questions and responds in a casual, conversational style. Using chatbots, airports can provide 24/7 customer assistance and reduce human contact. ?

Easy Baggage Screening ?

Passenger checked baggage is screened more efficiently using an Artificial Intelligence-based, robotic assisted convenience system, which quickly troubleshoots and diverts high-risk baggage for deeper inspection. Today’s AI-powered facial recognition solutions for live video give insights into how individuals are moving through the space and enable much faster access. ?

Improving Security: Facial Recognition and Thermal Cameras ?

Facial recognition and fever detector AI Thermal cameras used for detecting passenger with fever. AI-based video analytics uses algorithms and computer vision technology to look at video feeds, commonly taken from cameras to detect patterns and trends. The analysis happens in real-time and delivers actionable intelligence such as crowd gathering, people’s emotions and behaviors, general heat mapping, etc. ?

As consumers become more familiar with high level of customization gained through AI, other businesses are faced with the challenge to offer similar experiences for shoppers across channels. ? ??

Predicting Flight Delays with AI-Based Algorithm ?

Dealing with flight delays and cancellations can be incredibly frustrating and stressful for passengers. The impact of flight delays, however, extends beyond the inconvenience faced by travelers. It affects cargo logistics, airport operations, and even has economic repercussions.

Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Market, Key Players are

1. Intel 2. NVIDIA 3. IBM 4.Micron 5. Samsung 6. Xilinx 7. Amazon 8. Microsoft 9. Airbus 10. Boeing 11. General Electric 12. Thales 13. Lockheed Martin 14. Garmin 15. Nvidia 16. GE 17. Pilot AI Labs 18. Neurala 19. Northrop Grumman 20. IRIS Automation 21. Kittyhawk

Conclusion

AI has revolutionized aviation, transforming operations, elevating passenger experiences, and enhancing safety. One can safely say that integrating artificial intelligence in aviation is now no longer a choice but a necessity. The key, however, is choosing the right technical partner for a seamless adoption. This is where we excel at Symphony Solutions.

Whether you want to improve customer experience, streamline booking, sell tickets, or analyze sentiments, our proven expertise in airline software development, advanced analytics, and machine learning is what your business needs to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence.

Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer Statement Some of the Content has been taken from Open Internet Sources just for representation purposes.

Anjoum Sirohhi