A behavioural economics and data science app says it has helped Virgin Atlantic pilots save 1,000 tonnes of fuel in under six months.

Signol uses data analysis to provide pilots with personalised recommendations on how to fly most efficiently from a fuel burn perspective, while complying with flight safety and fuel management standards.

Signol said that the partnership had delivered fuel savings equivalent to £1 million “in a matter of months” and would run for three years following a successful pilot.

Natasha Gedge, COO of Signol said that while there was “so much work going into decarbonising the aviation industry”, developing new technologies and fuels “takes time”, and its app “helps businesses tweak behaviours to reduce carbon emissions from day one and achieve meaningful fuel savings in a matter of months through behaviour change alone”.

Meanwhile Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic’s chief customer and operating officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented:

“We’ve been on a pathway to reduce fuel and carbon in our fuel efficiency programme for over a decade, whilst always looking for innovations that take us to the next level. The Signol software uses data science and behavioural economics to assist our Captains in making the most sustainable choices to reduce carbon emissions and fuel burn.

“In addition to our multi-billion dollar investment in fleet transformation to ensure we are operating one of the youngest, cleanest fleets, we continue to invest in innovation and technology partners across the industry who help us on our mission to create a low carbon future at pace. Signol’s ability to deliver further fuel reductions assists us in continuously moving the dial.”

The airline is set to take delivery of the first of 16 A330-900 aircraft  later this year, which it says will deliver an 11 per cent fuel and carbon saving compared to the A330-300s they are replacing.

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virginatlantic.com, signol.io