Over the Labor Day weekend, American Airlines tested its new artificial intelligence (AI) system for managing flight connections.
Designed to provide passengers with a smoother travel experience, the system autonomously decides whether flights can be held to accommodate passengers managing tight connections. Previously, this decision was taken manually by staff on the ground. Now, planes will be held based on a more efficient, data-driven process. By assessing the status of the flight, the status of the connecting flight, and the number of passengers who need to make a connection, the algorithm determines whether planes should be delayed on the tarmac or not.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona was the location for the late-summer test. With many passengers using the bank holiday weekend for travel, there was a significant opportunity for trialling the AI system in a busy environment. American Airlines conducted other tests at Dallas Forth Worth and Charlotte Douglas Airports earlier in the year.
Some passengers responded positively to American Airlines’ plan, citing reduced stress and the enhanced accessibility of digital information as key advantages to the change.
On the other hand, concerns remain over the system’s efficiency claims. Delaying a few connecting flights even by minutes could have a significant impact on the rest of the departures schedule, breeding further congestion.
American Airlines has stressed that only a small number of flights will be delayed through the AI system, and that most operations will run as normal.
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