Airbus AI Smart Catering Cuts Airline Food Waste by Double Digits

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus.

The global airline industry is grappling with a massive waste problem, generating an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of cabin and catering waste annually. According to an official press release from Airbus, this figure,based on 2024–2025 data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF),is projected to reach four million tonnes by late 2025. Without intervention, this volume could double by 2040 as passenger numbers continue to climb.

A significant portion of this waste, between 18% and 20%, consists of untouched food and beverages. Due to strict international regulations, much of this untouched food is either incinerated or sent to landfills. To combat this environmental and operational challenge, Airbus has introduced a new artificial intelligence-driven solution aimed at drastically reducing in-flight food waste.

In 2025, Airbus partnered with Virgin Atlantic to test its “Smart Catering” concept in live conditions. The system utilizes AI and data tracking to automatically monitor passenger meal consumption, providing airlines with actionable insights to better match catering supply with actual passenger demand.

Deploying AI on the Catering Trolley

The Smart Catering solution is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing cabin crew workflows without requiring additional hardware. According to the Airbus release, the system utilizes AI software installed on standard crew tablets and mobile devices.

Camera-Based Tracking and Intelligent Assistance

As cabin crew members pull meal trays from the trolley, the device’s existing camera uses AI recognition to identify and track the food and beverages being served. This transparent tracking updates onboard stock in real time. Beyond simply counting meals, the system provides crew members with live inventory status, item locations within specific galleys or trolleys, and crucial allergy and nutritional information.

Elise Weber, Airbus’ Head of Service Ecosystem Connected Aircraft, highlighted the operational benefits for the crew in the company’s statement:

“During the flight tests, the tool provided features like interactive galley search, live inventory, and intuitive dietary information free crew from manual forms and reporting, allowing them to focus on the passenger. The system provided real-time availability and location status of all food and beverage, and could indicate in which trolley and galley they can be found during the flight.”

From Ground Mock-ups to Transatlantic Flights

Before taking to the skies, the Smart Catering system underwent initial testing at a Virgin Atlantic ground cabin mock-up center in the United Kingdom. Following these successful ground trials, the technology was deployed on actual passenger flights to validate its performance in real-world conditions.

Live Flight Trials

Airbus reports that the in-flight reality checks took place on two Virgin Atlantic routes: an A330 flying from London to New York and an A350 traveling from London to Orlando, including their return legs. The data collected during these flights is fed into a “ground cloud,” allowing airlines to analyze route-level insights and quantify precise passenger demand.

Darryl Bailey, Head of Inflight Services at Virgin Atlantic, praised the collaboration in the press release:

“At Virgin Atlantic, we’re always looking for innovative ways to elevate our premium onboard experience while reducing our environmental impact. Collaborating with Airbus on the Smart Catering trials has given us valuable insight into how data and AI can help us better match customer preferences, minimise waste, and operate more efficiently.”

Targeting Double-Digit Waste Reduction

By leveraging fleet-wide catering intelligence, airlines can move away from broad estimations and toward precise demand fulfillment. Airbus notes that this data-driven approach has the potential to yield double-digit reductions in the preventable waste associated with carrying excess food and beverages on board.

AirPro News analysis

The aviation industry’s push toward sustainability often focuses heavily on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and next-generation propulsion. However, cabin waste represents a highly visible and immediate area where operational efficiencies can yield tangible environmental benefits. By utilizing existing hardware,such as crew tablets,Airbus is lowering the barrier to entry for airlines looking to adopt smart technologies. If the double-digit waste reduction claims hold true across larger fleet deployments, AI-driven catering could become a standard operational requirement rather than a premium novelty, helping carriers cut both weight-related fuel costs and landfill fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Airbus Smart Catering?
Smart Catering is an AI-driven software solution that uses camera recognition on crew tablets to track passenger meal and beverage consumption, helping airlines reduce food waste.

How much food waste does the airline industry generate?
According to 2024–2025 data cited by Airbus, the industry generates about 3.6 million tonnes of cabin waste annually, with 18% to 20% being untouched food and drink.

When and where was the system tested?
Airbus tested the system in 2025 in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, conducting ground trials in the UK and live flight tests on A330 and A350 aircraft flying from London to New York and Orlando.

Where can the industry see this technology?
A working prototype of the Smart Catering solution is being showcased at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg from April 14 to April 16, 2026.

Sources

• Airbus