Operation Blue Skies begins UK trial of AI-driven contrail avoidance
Operation Blue Skies, a £5 million, 30-month programme backed by the UK Government, launched to evaluate AI-driven flight path adjustments across North Atlantic airspace to avoid persistent warming contrails. The programme will conduct two operational trials during winter months in 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 across NATS-controlled Shanwick oceanic airspace, using AI models to identify when minor altitude adjustments can reduce contrail formation, which the researchers note accounts for roughly one-third of aviation's total climate impact. The consortium includes the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, Google, the Department for Transport, the Met Office, NATS, and Contrails.org, with Cambridge and Imperial providing independent verification of climate impact.