AI to steer planes away from climate-warming contrails over the Atlantic

Britain is launching Operation Blue Skies, a 30‑month trial using AI and satellite/flight data to predict where contrails form in Shanwick airspace and steer aircraft to avoid them by altering altitude (about 2,000 ft). Backed by Google, the Met Office, NATS and universities, the test during winters 2026–28 will affect around 10,000 flights, though only a fraction switch altitudes. If successful, it could yield a net climate benefit by reducing contrail warming, despite small increases in fuel use; results will be published later.