Cathay Pacific Trials Google AI Contrail Avoidance on Ultra-Long-Haul Flights
Cathay Pacific has partnered with Google to advance research on contrail avoidance and begin testing on ultra-long-haul flights. A trial started in late 2025 targeting more than 100 flights, with over 80 routed for contrail avoidance. Google estimates about a 40% reduction in contrail warming impact, and altitude adjustments on one route drove over half the trial’s total climate impact. Insights are expected to inform broader airline adoption.