The UK and Google are testing changes to flight paths to tackle aviation's climate impact

The UK and Google are launching a 30-month trial to adjust flight paths over the northeastern Atlantic to reduce aviation’s climate impact from contrails. Beginning Tuesday, Operation Blue Skies will run test periods this winter and next in the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, a major Europe-to-North America traffic gateway and a hotspot for contrails. British air traffic controllers will instruct some flights to deviate up to 2,000 feet (610 meters) to avoid regions where contrails are likely to form, using established ATC communication channels. Google UK is contributing AI-powered forecasts to identify those areas. About 10,000 flights are expected to pass through Shanwick during testing, with roughly 1% to 5% deviating across around 20 to 40 test days per winter.