ITA Airways to save fuel and reduce emissions in 2026 thanks to AI-powered tool

AI-based climb profile optimization will help ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, to reduce fuel consumption. The airline has already achieved substantial reductions and is on track to deliver more than 7,100 tons of fuel savings and over 22,100 tons of CO₂ across 2025 and 2026. The airline’s innovative, data-driven approach, supported by SITA OptiFlight®, will enhance performance while delivering benefits and cost savings.

Rolled out across ITA Airways’ fleet, SITA OptiFlight® calculates the most efficient climb profile for each flight by adjusting airspeed, acceleration, altitude transitions, and climb Mach, using predictive analytics, machine learning, and 4D weather data across all aircraft in the fleet.

SITA OptiFlight® applies tail-specific, multi-dimensional modeling for each aircraft, ensuring the delivery of precise climb profiles under varying operational and weather conditions. This approach highlights ITA Airways’ commitment to sustainability and performance driven by data.

Francesco Presicce, Chief Innovation and Strategic Projects/Vision of ITA Airways, “At ITA Airways, we know that innovative technologies are key to delivering our long‑term growth and sustainability strategy. The deployment of SITA OptiFlight® demonstrates our commitment to equipping the company with innovative, practical, and measurable tools, while ensuring operational excellence. Data-driven insights and artificial intelligence allow us to achieve significant fuel‑saving and emissions reductions without compromising efficiency or safety. This initiative is part of our broader commitment to more sustainable and responsible aviation, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this journey”.

The fleet-wide deployment underscores ITA Airways’ ambition to position itself among the leaders in sustainable operations.

Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, added: "The aviation industry faces the urgent challenge of reducing emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. ITA Airways' decision to implement SITA OptiFlight® is a testament to how harnessing the power of data can have a measurable impact. Fuel consumption is one of the biggest hurdles for airlines facing increasing regulatory and environmental pressures, and with it being one of the biggest costs in day-to-day operations, the need for intelligent solutions has never been greater. By using real-time data and predictive modeling, SITA OptiFlight® will allow ITA Airways to reduce fuel burn and emissions while maintaining optimal flight performance. This collaboration shows how digital transformation is fundamental to aviation sustainability."