Qatar adopts AI platform to forecast cargo capacity, demand

Qatar Airways Cargo has partnered with artificial intelligence company FLYR Labs to forecast cargo capacity and demand using deep learning, an advanced form of AI. The partnership is the carrier’s latest stride in digitalization as part of its Next Generation digital initiative. Qatar will use FLYR’s cloud-native decision intelligence platform, The Revenue Operating System, to gain automated, AI-based revenue management capabilities to solve cargo model complexities and assist with commercial decision-making, according to a release. [caption id="attachment_57132722" align="alignright" width="460"] Qatar will use FLYR’s cloud-native decision intelligence platform, The Revenue Operating System, to gain automated, AI-based revenue management capabilities to solve cargo model complexities and assist with commercial decision-making, according to a release. (Photo/Qatar Airways)[/caption] The platform ingests all relevant cargo revenue and operational data into a single data warehouse, Cole Wrightson, chief product officer at FLYR, told Air Cargo Next. “FLYR deploys our purpose-built deep learning algorithms to optimize and forecast directly the desired task,” Wrightson said. “The deep learning models directly link past demand drivers and constraints to revenue outcomes so that future projections are informed by the complex dependencies that a leading cargo airline like Qatar Airways Cargo operates under.” Data from Qatar’s systems also will allow the platform to produce automated demand forecasts and revenue management recommendations, he added. FLYR has worked with passenger carriers such as Azul Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Avianca to use its AI platforms, but with the Qatar partnership comes its first foray into air cargo. The company expects strong results from future partnerships within the industry, and sees even greater “untapped opportunity” there, Wrightson said. “In the passenger space, carriers that have worked with us to implement our AI technology have seen better productivity — including a 90% reduction in human action — and a revenue uplift of 5% to 7% over legacy methodologies,” he explained. Santa Monica, Calif.-based FLYR was founded in 2013 by Alex Mans. In September 2021, the company secured $150 million in series C funding led by growth equity firm WestCap, according to its website. See also: Digital futures: 5 air cargo tech trends to watch in 2023 Qatar Airways Cargo’s Next Generation initiative has prioritized digitalization since launching in August 2022. Most recently, the carrier partnered with Siemens Logistics in October to digitize cargo handling processes through data analytics and AI. That month, the carrier also added its cargo capacity to digital booking platforms cargo.one and CargoAi and revamped its website to include a “Digital Lounge,” a cargo customer portal that offers visibility, transparency and performance monitoring. The airfreight industry is slowly embracing AI and machine learning for demand forecasts, as well as other uses such as cargo tracking, optimized inventory management and navigating sudden changes in the shipping process due to delays. Qatar Airways ranked No. 3 in Air Cargo Next ’s Freight 50 ranking of the top cargo carriers based on 2021 throughput.

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