by Elsie Clark | Nov 14, 2025 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Vietnam Airlines has adopted Lido 4D Flight Planning software for better operational safety and efficiency.
Produced by Lufthansa Systems, the tool enhances real-time situational awareness with updates from weather stations and air traffic control. Sustainability is also a focus, with Lido 4D helping airlines reducing unnecessary emissions and chart optimal flight paths. The solution is a significant step above traditional semi-automated processes, allowing pilots to make decisions more dynamically and adapt to changing circumstances more rapidly.
To Ngoc Giang, Executive Vice President at Vietnam Airlines, commented,
With the support from Lufthansa Systems, we are well-positioned to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future, reinforcing our status as a premier airline in Asia and beyond.
Other airlines who have adopted Lido 4D include ANA, Emirates, and Malaysia Airlines. Vietnam Airlines currently holds a 4-star rating on Skytrax. Tech investment hopes to put them on equal footing with top airlines in APAC and achieve that coveted 5-star rating. More efficient planning will not only reduce their carbon emissions, but pass on benefits to customers such as smoother flights and improved on-time performance (OTP).
Lufthansa Systems, the in-house innovation team from German airline Lufthansa, supports over 350 customers. Vietnam Airlines adds Lido 4D Flight Planning to its existing suite of Lufthansa Systems solutions,, including mPilot, Lido FMS, and Lido AMDB.
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by Elsie Clark | Oct 22, 2025 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation, Sustainability
According to the latest patent data, innovation in AI for sustainable aviation and aerospace tech has increased by 20% over the past five years.
The Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report from Appleyard Lees found that global patent filings in the sector went up from 254 in 2019 to 307 in 2023. Increasing control of variables such as aircraft altitude, speed, and pressure, as well as advances in onboard systems and digital data processing, are attributed to the growth.
Adam Tindall, UK and European Patent Attorney for Appleyard Lees, said:
Innovations in areas such as aircraft design, propulsion, operational efficiencies and reductions in waste and energy infrastructure – traditionally aimed at achieving business advantage – are now expected also to reduce carbon emissions and meet environmental targets.
As part of this, AI-driven innovation is showing a tangible surge in aviation and aerospace and redefining how organisations are addressing the industries’ challenges.
The report found that Boeing remains the leader in sustainable aerospace development, filing the most patents over the past ten years. Other leaders include Honeywell, GE Aerospace, Airbus, Thales, and the Chinese company SZ DJI Technology. French company Safran was also highlighted as a key developer in fuel efficiency and hybrid propulsion.
The use cases for AI in sustainable aviation development are only increasing. From flight ops to SAF production, the potential for optimisation is extensive. However, the aviation industry must remember that strong data foundations are required for AI insights to be useful and actionable. And while the patent activity is promising, as net-zero emissions targets loom nearer, successful implementation will be just as important as innovation.
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 24, 2025 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Optimising flight operations is an increasingly popular topic as the aviation industry tries to reduce emissions and make processes as efficient as possible. But how can data be used to effect meaningful change?
With disruption costing the industry as much as 8% of its revenue, effective flight planning is key to remaining competitive. At Aerospace Tech Week 2025, we sat down with Murray Skelton, Vice President of Business Development at FLYHT Aerospace Solutions, an FTG company, to discuss the future of flight ops.
Most aircraft receive weather updates that are 15 minutes out of date, which can result in delays when flying in unexpected conditions. Skelton discusses how real-time weather updates onboard are essential for ensuring flights operate in the best possible conditions at all times.
We should have, as a community, almost a mandate that says all aircraft that are flying should effectively be flying weather stations.
Weather stations such as the UK Met Office are investing in powerful supercomputers to make forecasts as accurate as possible. But Skelton argues that these computers are only as powerful as the data they provide.
They need more data, and the best place and actually the cheapest place to get the data is to turn aircraft into weather stations.
The conversation also covers the urgent need for aviation to modernise its connectivity infrastructure. With volumes of aircraft expected to double by 2042, leveraging data will be key reducing operational strain.
Right now, ACARS is still the number one communications tool of an airplane. It’s something from 1958, equivalent to very early texting with cellular phones. IP systems are out there, but uptake is quite slow.
Skelton nevertheless remains optimistic about the future, anticipating different ways in which superior data and transmission will enhance flight ops.
The data is getting cheaper. The transmission of data is getting cheaper. And that’s all going to help – but we’re not there yet.
🎥 Watch the full interview to hear Murray Skelton’s full interview on data in aerospace.
Questions asked include:
- How can effective flight planning minimise disruption?
- The number of aircraft in operation is set to double by 2042. How important is it for airlines to leverage data to navigate this transition successfully?
- How do you maintain data quality and ensure all information is reliable and accurate?
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 17, 2025 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Air India has adopted SITA OptiFlight’s advanced climb optimisation solution, OptiClimb, and SITA eWAS for improved operational sustainability. The data-driven insights provided will reduce the airline’s carbon emissions by 35,000 tons each year.
The Indian national carrier has adopted the software as part of is intensive modernisation strategy, which includes retrofitting its current planes and purchasing more aircraft. The SITA technology has now rolled out across its fleet of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s, with the widebody fleet to be added soon.
The SITA OptiFlight suite helps airlines optimise key phases of flights, especially energy-intense phases. Without compromising safety or performance, the intelligence tools provide custom climb-out schedules for each aircraft, reducing fuel burn.
SITA eWAS, on the other hand, is a complementary programme that provides pilots with weather updates and predictive forecasting. The availability of this real-time data helps the crew avoid turbulence and re-route efficiently.
Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific at SITA, said:
Air India’s deployment of SITA OptiFlight and eWAS is a strong example of how smart digital technologies can cut emissions, save fuel, and unlock real operational value across every flight.
Basil Kwauk, Chief Operations Officer, Air India, added:
Sustainability and efficiency are core to our transformation into a world-class airline. With SITA OptiFlight and SITA eWAS, we’re taking meaningful steps to modernize our operations, reduce our carbon footprint.
Fuel savings across the fleet as a result of SITA’s optimisations are expected to be in the region 11,000 tons. The announcement comes after Air India signed a memorandum of understanding with IndianOil for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in August 2025 – a further component of its net-zero emissions strategy.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026, where our dedicated Flight Ops IT and Sustainability tracks will be exploring how to improve aircraft operational performance while reducing emissions,
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