Dutch flag carrier KLM says it is wasting less food on board its flights by deploying Trays, a programme using Artificial Intelligence.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the flag carrier of the Netherlands, has deployed artificial intelligence (AI) onboard to determine the number of meals required on board each flight to help combat food waste. The latest AI model, called Trays is the first model specifically developed for KLM’s catering activities.

According to a press statement by KLM, this AI programme enables it to better predict how many passengers who have booked will actually board a flight.

It says that not all bookings made result in a passenger on board a KLM aircraft. Depending on the class, between 3 pc and 5 pc of booked passengers do not show up on time for the flight.

KLM says the AI-empowered programme Trays allows the exact number of required meals to be calculated and KLM achieves up to 63 pc less food waste based on the expected number of passengers per flight. On an annual basis, this amounts to a saving of more than 100,000 kg of food.

KLM says a three-month analysis shows that 63 pc less food is wasted compared to catering for every booked passenger.

“Investments in digital technology are a priority for KLM. The application of artificial intelligence contributes enormously to improving our flight operations and making them more sustainable. Combatting food waste is a good example of this, resulting in tens of thousands fewer meals being wasted on our flights each year,” says Marjan Rintel, CEO, KLM.

The airline says that AI programme predicts the number of passengers on board based on historical data. The Meals On Board System (MOBS) receives the expected passenger numbers per flight with separate forecasts for Business, Premium Comfort and Economy classes.

The statement adds that the prediction using the AI model starts 17 days before departure and continues until 20 minutes before the flight departs, facilitating a prediction for the entire catering process from purchasing to loading, thus preventing a surplus of meals.

The statement adds that Trays assembled talent from leading companies, including KLM, bol, Ahold Delhaize, NS and ING, to work on the development of this model.

KLM says that the largest improvement can be seen on its intercontinental flights from Schiphol, where 2.5 fewer meals or 1.3 kg need to be thrown away per flight. On an annual basis, this amounts to a saving of 111,000 kg in meals across all KLM flights that are catered from Schiphol.

KLM says it is also working on the application of artificial intelligence in other parts of its business operations. For instance, AI is important in making aircraft maintenance smarter and booking flights.