Alphabet's Google, Cathay Pacific Launch AI-Powered Contrail Avoidance Trials

05:24 AM EDT, 09/08/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google has teamed up with Cathay Pacific to research and test AI-powered contrail-avoidance technology aimed at reducing non-CO2 climate impact, the companies said Monday. Contrails, the thin clouds formed when aircraft pass through cold, humid air at high altitude, can trap heat and contribute to aviation's climate impact. The carrier is Google's first commercial airline partner in Asia-Pacific for the trials and the first globally to test contrail-avoidance on ultra-long-haul flights. More than 80 Cathay flights have already followed AI-guided altitude adjustments, achieving an estimated 40% reduction in contrail-related warming, they said. The companies plan to expand the program into a second phase covering Asia and transpacific routes to generate broader operational data and support future industry standards.