Delta Air Lines to use AI to boost profits and automate decisions

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian announced that the company intends to integrate artificial intelligence to drive a potential 50% increase in profits. By utilizing what he refers to as ‘augmented intelligence,’ the airline aims to improve decision-making processes across several sectors, including pricing, upgrades, crew recovery, maintenance, fuel management, and back-office operations.

Bastian noted that the technology will allow the company to move from backward-looking data to predictive, forward-looking intelligence. This shift is expected to increase profit margins from 10% to 15%, representing approximately $3 billion. The implementation will involve replacing certain human-led processes with machine-made decisions and implementing individualized ticket pricing for passengers. The move toward automation may also lead to job reductions, a trend previously acknowledged by United Airlines regarding management headcount.