AviationNews – Airbus and Virgin Atlantic have successfully completed live flight trials of a new AI-driven “Smart Catering” system designed to tackle the millions of tonnes of cabin waste generated by the airline industry each year. This innovative technology aims to modernize inflight services by using data to precisely match meal supply with passenger demand.
The collaboration addresses a mounting environmental challenge, as data from IATA and the Aviation Sustainability Forum suggests global cabin waste will reach four million tonnes by late 2025. Approximately 20% of this volume consists of untouched food and drink, often sent to landfills due to strict international health regulations. Following successful ground tests at a mock-up center in the United Kingdom, the partners deployed the system on A330 and A350 aircraft flying between London, New York, and Orlando to prove the concept in real-world conditions.
The Smart Catering solution utilizes AI software integrated into standard crew tablets to automatically track meal consumption. As cabin crew remove trays from the trolley, the device’s camera recognizes the items and updates the onboard stock in real time. Beyond simple tracking, the system provides the crew with an interactive galley search and instant access to dietary information, reducing manual paperwork and allowing them to focus more on passenger interaction.
“Collaborating with Airbus on the Smart Catering trials has given us valuable insight into how data and AI can help us better match customer preferences, minimise waste, and operate more efficiently,” stated Darryl Bailey, Head of Inflight Services at Virgin Atlantic. He emphasized that this development is a critical step in the airline’s sustainability commitment without sacrificing high-quality service.
This digital approach is expected to deliver double-digit reductions in preventable waste by providing fleet-wide catering intelligence. By analyzing data via a “ground cloud,” airlines can finally quantify passenger demand at a route-specific level, ensuring that future flights carry only what is necessary.
By integrating these tools into the connected aircraft ecosystem, the industry moves closer to the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As passenger numbers continue to rise, such AI-led innovations will be vital for balancing operational growth with environmental responsibility.
Airbus has demonstrated that digitalization can transform traditional catering into a highly efficient, data-driven operation. This successful trial paves the way for a more sustainable future in aviation, where technology eliminates the guesswork from the passenger experience.
