EXCLUSIVE: Trump's FAA touts new AI-powered tool helping thousands of passengers avoid flight delays
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration's new AI-supported air traffic management tool has already helped reroute nearly 180 flights carrying approximately 24,000 passengers to avoid congestion, cutting flight times by more than...
By Fox News · Fox News
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration 's new AI-supported air traffic management tool has already helped reroute nearly 180 flights carrying approximately 24,000 passengers to avoid congestion, cutting flight times by more than 10 minutes on average, according to new Department of Transportation ( DOT ) data shared exclusively with Fox News Digital. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories system, known as SMART, has been operational for nearly six weeks, helping air traffic controllers identify more fuel-efficient routes and anticipate potential disruptions. According to DOT, the technology has also saved nearly 80 gallons of fuel per flight on average, offering an early glimpse of how the Trump administration hopes to reduce flight delays and cancellations. TRUMP UNVEILS AMERICA.GOV AS AI-POWERED HUB FOR PASSPORTS, MEDICARE ENROLLMENT AND MORE "Under President Trump, we are making historic progress to revitalize air traffic control and improve the passenger experience for millions of Americans," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. Duffy also said the technology would deliver broader benefits as the program expands. " SMART will slash frustrating delays, reduce stress on air traffic controllers, and lower travel prices." One example came in October when a flight carrying 147 passengers from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Orlando International Airport avoided expected congestion after SMART recommended an alternative route. SEVERE TURBULENCE DIVERTS NEW YORK CITY FLIGHT TO MIAMI, 8 INJURED The flight had been scheduled to depart during a period when congestion was expected along its original path. SMART identified a route farther west, which air traffic controllers accepted, shortening the journey by 11 nautical miles and saving six minutes of flight time, according to DOT. The technology combines 200 data streams, including…