Operation Blue Skies: Reducing Aviation's Climate Impact Through AI

Contrails, the white lines left behind by aircraft, account for approximately 1/3 of the climate impact emitted by the aviation industry. These are clouds formed when water vapor condenses around soot particles in jet engine exhaust gases.

Google is collaborating with the aviation industry to reduce the warming effect of contrails. It has been validating technology that helps avoid areas prone to contrail formation through AI-based prediction models, in partnership with American Airlines, EUROCONTROL's MUAC, FlightKeys, and others.

The newly announced Operation Blue Skies is the world's first state-led attempt to reduce contrails by coordinating entire flight paths, going beyond individual airline-level experiments. This project will conduct AI-powered contrail avoidance experiments across the entire airspace over the North Atlantic.