Data-driven fuel-efficiency platform to support operations across more than 600 aircraft
International Airlines Group (IAG) has selected OpenAirlines’ SkyBreathe fuel-efficiency platform for deployment across its five airlines, covering a fleet of more than 600 aircraft.
The platform is being deployed across Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling, providing the group with a common data and reporting framework to identify, measure and share fuel-efficiency initiatives across its operations.
SkyBreathe analyses operational data including flight plans, weather conditions and aircraft performance to identify opportunities to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining operational and safety requirements.
Fuel efficiency has become an increasingly important consideration for airlines as operators manage fuel-price volatility and seek to improve the efficiency of aircraft operations.
IAG’s airlines already use a range of operational measures, including flight-plan optimisation, reducing auxiliary power unit use on the ground and single-engine taxiing where operationally appropriate. The SkyBreathe deployment is intended to complement these measures by bringing operational data into a common analytical environment.
By applying data analytics across different operating environments, the platform can help identify patterns and potential efficiency opportunities at the flight and fleet level.
A key element of the deployment is the creation of a common data and reporting framework across IAG’s five airlines. This will allow the group to measure fuel-efficiency performance more consistently and facilitate the sharing of operational initiatives between airlines.
“Fuel is one of the largest costs for our airlines, and ongoing fuel price volatility has reinforced the importance of improving efficiency wherever we can,” said José Antonio Barrionuevo, Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer, IAG.
The approach also highlights the growing role of data in airline operational decision-making, where aircraft performance information can be combined with flight planning and environmental data to support more efficient operations.
SkyBreathe is already in use at Aer Lingus, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling, with British Airways expected to complete its rollout in the coming months.
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The group-wide implementation will give IAG a more consistent view of fuel-efficiency performance across its airline portfolio and provide a platform for identifying and sharing initiatives across the network.
For the wider aviation aftermarket, the increasing use of aircraft and operational data also points to a closer connection between aircraft performance, digital analytics and maintenance decision-making, as airlines seek to extract greater efficiency from existing fleets.
