KLM is using artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the number of meals on its aircraft to help combat food waste.

Not all bookings result in a passenger on a KLM aircraft. Depending on the class, between 3% and 5% of booked passengers do not show up (on time) for the flight.

AI programmes enable the company to better predict how many passengers who have booked will actually board a flight. This allows the exact number of required meals to be calculated and KLM achieves up to 63% less food waste based on the expected number of passengers per flight.

The biggest improvement can be seen on intercontinental KLM flights from Schiphol, where 2.5 fewer meals (1.3kg) need to be thrown away per flight. On an annual basis, this amounts to a saving of 111 000kg in meals across all KLM flights that are catered from Schiphol.

“Investments in digital technology are a priority for KLM. The application of AI contributes enormously to improving our flight operations and making them more sustainable. Combating food waste is a good example of this, resulting in tens of thousands fewer meals being wasted on our flights each year,” says Marjan Rintel, CEO and President of KLM.

The latest AI model (TRAYS) is the first one specifically developed for KLM’s catering activities. The AI model predicts the number of passengers on board based on historical data. The Meals On Board System (MOBS) receives the expected passenger numbers per flight with separate forecasts for Business, Premium Comfort and Economy classes.

The prediction using the AI model starts 17 days before departure and continues until 20 minutes before the flight departs. This means the most accurate possible number of passengers is predicted for the entire catering process from purchasing to loading, thus preventing a surplus of meals.

The AI model TRAYS was launched at the end of last year by Kickstart AI.

“We are pleased that we have been able to make a valuable contribution to this important project for KLM. Our goal with Kickstart AI is to accelerate the adoption of AI in the Dutch business community and we look forward to working closely with Dutch companies to make this happen,” says Sander Stomph, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickstart AI.

KLM is also working on the application of artificial intelligence in other parts of its business operations. For instance, AI programmes are used to simulate predicted bad weather days, making it clear in advance which schedule would be best to allow flights to continue as much as possible. AI also helps customers by giving personalised travel tips after booking a flight.