Emirates Airlines reduces food waste by 42 tons annually using artificial intelligence

Emirates Airlines revealed a clear acceleration in the pace of digital transformation during the fiscal year 2025-2026, driven by the expansion of the use of artificial intelligence, data science and automation in its various operational processes and services.

The carrier stated, in the annual report of the Emirates Group, that these technologies contributed to improving the efficiency of resource management and enhancing the traveler experience, including reducing food waste by 42 tons annually through smart forecasting systems for the demand for meals, in addition to improving operational performance across the various stages of the travel journey.

In detail, Emirates Airlines confirmed accelerating the pace of digital transformation during the fiscal year 2025-2026, by expanding artificial intelligence, data science and automation initiatives, with the aim of enhancing customer experience and improving operational performance, across the various stages of the travel journey.

The carrier stated in the Emirates Group’s annual report that, as part of employing artificial intelligence, it uses a model to predict the number of users of the waiting lounges at Dubai International Airport three days in advance, based on location, travel class, and service period, which supports making more accurate decisions in the areas of catering and employee distribution.

According to the report, Emirates Airlines adopts a system to predict demand for meals across more than 300 flights per day, based on traveler data, destination characteristics, and previous preferences, which raised the availability rate of the first preferred meal to 99.1%, and reduced food waste by 42 tons annually during the last fiscal year.

The carrier explained that it uses a generative artificial intelligence assistant for check-in employees, which provides immediate access to procedures and travel rules, which contributes to improving customer service, speed of completion of transactions, and compliance with procedures.

The carrier stated that it accelerated the pace of its digital transformation, and expanded artificial intelligence initiatives, taking advantage of data science, noting that it activated automation to improve the customer experience and its operational performance that affects the trips of its passengers, as these initiatives supported making faster decisions with higher reliability, and providing a more personalized service while maintaining its consistency.

On board aircraft, the company has provided more than 25,000 cabin crew members with digital devices and a dedicated application system, which provides information and tools that help provide more personalized services to customers.

During the past year, Emirates Airlines and OpenAI announced a strategic cooperation aimed at enhancing the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and innovation across the carrier’s various operations. This cooperation will implement the extensive use of platforms within the group, in addition to developing specialized programs to enhance artificial intelligence skills, explore future technologies, and align the strategic direction of the leadership, with the aim of integrating artificial intelligence capabilities into the group’s operational structure.

Emirates Airlines affirmed its commitment to using technology and innovation to shape the future of the aviation sector.

The airline’s approach focuses on developing practical and scalable solutions that benefit passengers, communities, the industry in general, and all of the group’s brands and businesses.

As part of its continued commitment to innovation, Emirates Airlines has invested in the latest innovations to develop a biometrics path, which enhances the travel experience through exceptional levels of speed, accuracy and efficiency.

According to Emirates Airlines, it provides more than 110 million meals through its network annually, as it is keen to purchase the ingredients for its meals from the local markets of the destinations to which it operates flights, which supports the local economy, reduces environmental transportation costs, and obtains fresh products.

The carrier pointed out that the waste resulting from food greatly affects people’s lives, the economy and the environment, explaining that as part of its endeavor to reduce the waste resulting from its food, it uses technology to track and monitor what customers request on board, as this provides data on both the level of satisfaction and consumption.

She stated that she analyzes the data using the latest artificial intelligence techniques to predict consumption patterns, and thus she is able to rationalize the amount and type of food she provides on board the plane to the maximum extent, indicating that in this way she can reduce the waste resulting from food to 30 or 40%, without affecting the options available to travelers.

The carrier indicated that as technology advances, it aims to reduce food waste by 60 or 70%.

• The carrier provided 25,000 cabin crew members with digital devices and applications that provide information and tools that help provide more personalized services to customers.