The FAA wants to reboot the nation's airspace. This airline shows how it might work.

Alaska Airlines operates about 1,500 flights on a typical day, relying on dispatchers supported by Flyways AI, a software tool that ingests real-time traffic, weather, and upper-level wind data to suggest more efficient and safe routes. Alaska began using Flyways in 2021 through a partnership with startup Air Space Intelligence. The airline says the system saves tens of thousands of hours in the air and roughly one million gallons of fuel annually, by anticipating conditions before they occur. The FAA has now tapped Air Space Intelligence to help “reboot” U.S. airspace efficiency, using predictive analytics and AI. FAA head Bryan Bedford said regulators see a “transformational” opportunity for AI.