Attendees take a photograph in front of an engine on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 aircraft during an event to showcase the latest updates in the ecoDemonstrator program at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Boeing Co. is studying how to incorporate sustainability improvements into aircraft design, production, maintenance and recycling in preparation for its next commercial airliner, said Mike Sinnett, vice president of product development for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
David Ryder—Bloomberg/Getty Images
In part to reach its commitment of going net zero by 2040, Alaska Airlines became the first carrier to implement Flyways, AI software that plots more efficient routes. Over the course of a year, Flyways helped Alaska cut flight times and save 1.6 million gallons of fuel. While the airline’s climate targets are ambitious—Alaska burns 750 million gallons of fuel a year—addressing climate change has become a key focus for CEO Ben Minicucci and the Seattle-based carrier.
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