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🇸🇬 Singapore /Environment & Climate

Cathay Pacific and Google Expand AI Trials to Cut Climate-Warming Contrails

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Ongoing story
  • Cathay Pacific and Google will expand trials of AI tools that identify likely contrail-forming areas and help pilots adjust flight altitudes.
  • An initial test involving more than 80 Cathay flights achieved an estimated 40% reduction in contrail warming impact.
  • The next phase will cover Cathay’s Asian and trans-Pacific network, with the companies saying persistent contrails could account for about one-third of aviation’s climate impact.

Cathay Pacific and Google are expanding an AI trial designed to reduce the climate impact of aircraft contrails, the thin white lines that form in cold, humid conditions at high altitude.

The trial began in late 2025. Google’s forecasting tools identify areas where contrails are likely to form, allowing pilots to adjust flight altitude. An initial test involving more than 80 Cathay flights produced an estimated 40% reduction in contrail warming impact.

how predictive AI can be deployed in live operations to help address climate impact of contrails with today’s aircrafts and today’s fuel.

· Michael YueThe Google Hong Kong executive described the focus of the partnership.

Cathay is Google’s first commercial airline partner in the Asia-Pacific region for the technology. It is also the first airline worldwide to test contrail avoidance on ultra-long-haul flights. The companies plan a larger second phase across Cathay’s Asian and trans-Pacific network.

The companies said persistent contrails could account for about one-third of aviation’s total climate impact. Michael Yue, Google Hong Kong’s managing director and general manager, said the partnership would examine “how predictive AI can be deployed in live operations to help address climate impact of contrails with today’s aircrafts and today’s fuel.” Cathay director of digital and IT Lawrence Fong said aviation needs climate solutions and that AI is accelerating progress.

Aviation needs solutions to address climate change, and AI is accelerating that progress.

· Lawrence FongThe Cathay Pacific technology executive described the role of AI in reducing aviation’s climate impact.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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