British Airways is turning to greater use of artificial intelligence to improve its flight operations that have suffered a series of meltdowns in recent years. The UK airline has deployed AI to automate parts of its business, including in the maintenance of its more than 250 aircraft, according to people familiar with the matter. Among new technologies is an AI tool that predicts when a plane is likely to develop a fault, allowing BA to pre-emptively carry out fixes rather than wait for failures to be spotted close to take off with passengers aboard. This has already led to some operational improvements, one of the people said. Although disruption can be outside an airline’s control, such as this year’s air traffic problems, BA has suffered some of the industry’s most high-profile meltdowns. This includes a damaging IT failure that hobbled the airline in 2017 and inflicted lasting damage on its brand after thousands of passengers were stranded on a busy holiday weekend. Senior executives accept BA is reliant on antiquated technologies, from a creaking IT network to using paper based records to log defects on flights. The airline is not the first aviation company to try to digitise its operations or employ machine learning to cut costs and boost efficiencies. US aerospace manufacturer Boeing has touted diagnostic tools to improve maintenance efficiencies, while airlines including easyJet have used AI for tasks ranging from customer service to optimising flight routes. BA has turned to older AI technologies before, including trying to speed up aircraft turnaround times on the ground by spotting potential problems on cameras fitted across the airfield at Heathrow airport. <br/>
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Unions for ground service workers at International Airlines Group-owned Iberia said on Thursday they plan to strike over the New Year period at Spanish airports. The country's two main unions UGT and CCOO plan a walkout from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 and over Jan. 4-7, though the official paperwork has not yet been filed, a spokesperson for UGT said on Thursday. Ground service workers, such as baggage handlers, at Spanish commercial airports, which are operated by state-controlled Aena, are protesting against contracts signed with new providers in September. They will be joined in the strike by other colleagues, such as counter staff, who are not affected by the new contracts, the spokesperson said. Aena hired new contractors for services which were previously provided by Iberia in many airports, angering unions even though the new suppliers committed to retain workers and their working conditions. The strike would affect other airlines. Iberia, which has challenged the new contracts in the administrative courts, said in a statement on Wednesday evening that the strike is "irresponsible" and "makes no sense".<br/>
Qantas has knocked back calls for a passenger compensation scheme for delayed and cancelled flights, arguing it would force airlines to jack up their fares and threaten the viability of some routes. The airline has released its submission to the federal government's aviation green paper, acknowledging its recent performance had been "unacceptable" and left passengers disappointed and frustrated. But Qantas insisted a compensation scheme would do little to improve the situation, and may make air travel more difficult. "The Qantas Group considers that the introduction of mandatory compensation would be a backwards step that will do nothing to reduce delays and cancellations, will increase confusion and complaints and materially increase costs, ultimately leading to higher fares and potentially compromising the viability of marginal routes," the airline said in its submission. A compensation scheme has been floated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and independent MP Monique Ryan, citing a system in place across the European Union.<br/>
Australia’s Qantas Group has called on Canberra to set mandates for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), supported by a local capability to produce SAF at scale. The airline group suggests that the government set a mandate of 5% by 2030, rising to 28% by 2040. “Decarbonising aviation is critical to Australia’s broader emissions reduction targets,” says Qantas. “As the global community shifts, our ability to fly to several key offshore markets will start to be restricted from 2030 without significant action.” Underlining the lack of SAF production capability in Australia, Qantas recommends that the government help finance new production facilities and introduce incentives for local producers to compete with overseas markets. It also suggests that the government provide tax incentives to encourage SAF production. Qantas made the suggestions in a lengthy response document that addresses Australia’s Aviation Green Paper, which was released in September. The Green Paper, which covers a range of aviation issues, will inform Australia’s next Aviation White Paper. Qantas adds that while fleet renewal goes some way to reducing emissions, improved air traffic management can lead to immediate benefits through shorter, more efficient flight paths. <br/>