AI Powers Aviation’s Push Toward Sustainability and Smarter Operations | Updates from World Aviation Festival 2025 in Lisbon
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast emerging as the game-changer in aviation, driving efficiency, sustainability, and safety at an unprecedented pace. Speaking at the World Aviation Festival 2025 in Lisbon, aviation and technology leaders emphasized that AI is no longer futuristic — it is already redefining how airlines operate, maintain aircraft, and serve passengers.
AI Driving a New Era in Airline Efficiency
David Rowan, author and former Wired UK editor, described AI as “the fastest adopted technology in history,” noting that it is transforming airline operations globally. “We shouldn’t assume that everything that was fact until now will continue to be,” he said, highlighting the need for airlines to adapt rapidly to AI-driven innovation.
Ben Dias, Chief AI Scientist at International Airlines Group (IAG), revealed that IAG is using AI to optimize engine maintenance schedules, reducing both fuel consumption and emissions. “Sustainability is built into every AI project we consider. Even when AI can do something, it doesn’t mean that it should be done,” Dias explained.
AI and Sustainability: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Faith Taylor, Senior Vice President for Global Citizenship and Sustainability at Kyndryl, urged the industry to evaluate the environmental footprint of its digital infrastructure. “Before migrating systems to the cloud, airlines should know where their data centers are located and how they are powered,” she said.
At the same forum, sustainability experts from ATAG, Xelerated Fifty, and Sustainable Aero Lab called for stronger financing and policy frameworks to accelerate the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — a key element in the aviation industry’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment.
Nichola Bates, CEO of Xelerated Fifty, summed up the challenge: “Sustainability is not blocked by technology but by culture. Governments, investors, and industry players must collaborate to push change forward.”
With over 4,500 delegates attending, the World Aviation Festival 2025 has underscored that the aviation industry’s digital transformation is in full flight — powered by AI, guided by sustainability, and driven by urgency.
AI Powers Aviation’s Push Toward Sustainability and Smarter Operations | AviationGhana |
