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GE Aerospace’s FlightPulse app soars past 60,000 pilots as adoption accelerates

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GE Aerospace has seen rapid growth in the use of its FlightPulse app, with more than 60,000 commercial pilots now using the tool — up from 40,000 a year ago — and the number expected to exceed 70,000 by the end of 2025, the company said.

The data-driven flight monitoring app, launched in partnership with Qantas in 2017, allows pilots to review their own flight performance, compare it with peers, and identify ways to improve efficiency and safety. Airlines pay GE a per-pilot licensing fee to access the platform, which has helped strengthen the company’s reputation for aviation safety and sustainability.

Qantas captain Mark Cameron said FlightPulse helps him analyze details such as takeoff and landing angles, crucial for avoiding tail strikes on smaller aircraft like the Airbus A321. The airline also uses aggregated app data to optimize flight operations, cutting fuel costs by encouraging pilots to use less reverse thrust where safe.

According to Andrew Coleman, head of GE Aerospace’s Software-as-a-Service division, FlightPulse is now used by 42 airlines, including Delta Air Lines and NetJets, with fleets ranging from a few hundred to over 15,000 pilots. Coleman said the company aims to reach 100,000 pilots by 2026, emphasizing that the app’s goal is performance improvement — not punitive monitoring.

U.S. Transportation Department Raises Concerns Over AI Use in Personalized Airline Ticket Pricing

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concerns on Tuesday regarding the use of artificial intelligence to set personalized airline ticket prices and announced plans to investigate any such practices. This follows recent claims that some airlines may be using AI to adjust fares based on individual consumer profiles.

Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) clarified last week before lawmakers that it has neither used nor plans to use AI to price tickets on an individual basis. “To try to individualize pricing on seats based on how much you make or don’t make or who you are, I can guarantee you that we will investigate if anyone does that,” Duffy said. “We would engage very strongly if any company tries to use AI to individually price their seating.” He added that he takes Delta’s assurances at face value.

Last month, Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, and Richard Blumenthal warned that AI-based pricing could lead to fare increases tailored to a consumer’s personal “pain point.” Delta plans to deploy AI-powered revenue management technology across 20% of its domestic network by the end of 2025, partnering with Fetcherr, a company specializing in AI pricing. Fetcherr lists several airlines, including Delta, Westjet, Virgin Atlantic, Viva, and Azul, as clients.

American Airlines (AAL.O) CEO Robert Isom also expressed concerns that AI-driven pricing could damage consumer trust. Democratic lawmakers Greg Casar and Rashida Tlaib have introduced legislation aimed at banning companies from using AI to set prices or wages based on personal data, including prohibiting airlines from raising prices after sensitive searches such as family obituaries.

Delta emphasized that dynamic pricing—where fares fluctuate based on factors like demand, fuel costs, and competition—has been standard for over 30 years but insisted it does not use personal consumer information to set prices.

Delta Air Lines Must Face Lawsuit Over Flight Disruptions After 2024 Computer Outage, Judge Rules

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A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Delta Air Lines must face parts of a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by passengers who accused the airline of refusing full refunds after massive flight delays and cancellations caused by a computer outage in July 2024.

U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen in Atlanta allowed five of nine plaintiffs to move forward with breach of contract claims, citing Delta’s alleged failure to provide proper refunds. He also allowed a separate group of international travelers to pursue claims under the Montreal Convention, a global treaty covering air travel disruptions.

The outage, which began July 19, 2024, was triggered by a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, affecting over 8 million devices and causing significant disruptions to Microsoft clients, including major airlines. While many U.S. carriers resumed operations within a day, Delta’s systems remained down longer, resulting in about 7,000 canceled flights.

Judge Cohen dismissed several other claims, including those he said were preempted by federal law. Still, the ruling is being hailed by passengers’ attorneys as a victory for accountability.

“This ruling is a major step forward for Delta passengers seeking accountability,” said Joseph Sauder, a lawyer representing some of the plaintiffs.

Passengers said Delta failed to issue automatic refunds and allegedly required travelers to waive legal claims in exchange for partial compensation.

  • One plaintiff, John Brennan of Florida, missed a $10,000 anniversary cruise after being stranded in Atlanta and was offered only $219.45.

  • Another, Vittorio Muzzi of the Netherlands, said his 5,000-euro trip was disrupted, his luggage delayed 15 days, and he received just €588 in compensation.

Delta, which had sought to dismiss most of the claims, has not responded publicly to the ruling. The airline previously estimated the outage cost $550 million in revenue losses and added expenses.

The case is Bajra et al v. Delta Air Lines, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 24-03477.