Source: Fortune
Summary
Delta CEO Ed Bastian believes that AI can improve the flying experience by tackling air traffic control issues, which he considers one of the biggest problems facing airlines. He notes that air traffic control is ripe for innovation and that improved technologies like AI could make a real difference for travelers. Bastian also points to AI as a potential tool for better reading the atmosphere, predicting turbulence, and understanding airflow patterns. Delta is already using AI in its operations, including a digital travel assistant called Delta Concierge.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Air traffic control faces significant challenges, including antiquated technology and staffing issues. The Federal Aviation Administration has been slow to modernize critical systems, and the air traffic control workforce has been understaffed for over a decade. Delta CEO Ed Bastian believes that AI can help improve the flying experience by tackling these issues. The administration’s plan to modernize the air traffic control system includes replacing outdated infrastructure and building new traffic control towers. However, the FAA notes that AI is not a replacement for human expertise, but rather a valuable tool to identify risk areas.
It takes longer to fly from Atlanta to New York today than it did in the 1950s.
Author: Evan Null
