FAA awards $875M contract to Air Space Intelligence

Last updated: 26 June 2026 06:31

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Air Space Intelligence is a software company based in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. © Air Space Intelligence (ASI)

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded an $875 million-worth contract to the AI software company Air Space Intelligence, the federal agency announced on Monday, June 22.

Spanning over 12 years, the deal is intended to modernise the U.S.’s air traffic management system, reducing flight delays and improving scheduling efficiency.

Wide view of a large, modern office building with a white stone façade and rows of square, reflective windows arranged in a grid pattern. In the foreground, a blue sign reads “Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Wilbur Wright Building,” set on a neatly maintained grass lawn with small trees and pathways. A tall flagpole stands near the centre of the frame, while a pedestrian walkway runs along the left side. The scene is brightly lit under a blue sky with scattered white clouds, reflecting in the building’s glass windows. — FAA Headquarters © Matthew G. Bisanz

SMART system

Air Space Intelligence will deploy a new system called Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories (SMART), which uses data on flight schedules, weather, airport capacity and other conditions to predict traffic flow and potential congestion issues.

Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Air Space Intelligence, said:

“[The system ⁠will use] commercially proven technology already helping everyone from major airlines to the broader aviation community operate more efficiently and predictably.”

The FAA plans to begin using the SMART software in the fall, with the system also set to provide aggregated information to air traffic controllers and airlines.

Aerial night-time view of a large, brightly lit airport terminal complex, seen from above with aircraft parked at multiple gates along illuminated concourses. Several wide‑body jets are positioned on the apron in the foreground, with service vehicles and ground equipment clustered around them. The terminal buildings feature long, curved roofs glowing under floodlights, while adjacent multi‑storey car parks are filled with rows of vehicles. Taxiways and runways extend into the distance, marked by lines of blue and green lights, and surrounding roads carry streams of traffic through a dark landscape dotted with city lights. — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Georgia, U.S.A. © Harrison Keely

Long-awaited update

According to Forbes, some of the air traffic management systems operating in the U.S. date back to the 1960s, when the nation’s carriers dealt with around 60 million passengers a year – compared with the current figure of 1 billion passengers.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said:

“We must change how flights are managed,” adding that SMART “will fundamentally reshape how the airspace is managed – slashing thousands of delays and cancellations in the process.”

U.S. aviation lobbying group Airlines for America also expressed satisfaction with the investment, stating that it would:

“Make air ⁠traffic more efficient and timely while maintaining our gold standard of safety,” by providing airlines with “more efficient routings and more predictable information about system capacity.”

Some carriers have, however, expressed concerns privately to the FAA regarding which flights would be rescheduled if congestion were predicted, Reuters reported.

What do you think of this new AI deployment in aviation? Share your opinion in the comments!

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ByMarta Abreu

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News Editor - A recent master’s graduate in International Journalism with a strong interest in international and investigative reporting, including digital open-source methods. Drawn to humanitarian, environmental and political journalism, finance and institutions, they enjoy uncovering surprising angles and exploring complex stories in depth. Primarily a writer, they also have experience in podcasting and information visualisation, with an academic background in Communication Sciences.