FAA expands SMART AI advice to manage air traffic congestion nationwide

What the FAA has announced

The Federal Aviation Administration said on 10 November 2026 that its SMART advisory system will now be used across the entire national airspace system, according to Ars Technica. The cloud-based tool, which cost 875 million dollars, had previously run only in the airspace around Washington, DC, starting on 21 September.

SMART combines data on weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing to predict traffic and suggest routes, schedules and the order in which aircraft should arrive. A human team of FAA specialists in DC checks each recommendation before it goes to control facilities, and local controllers can decline the advice. The agency stresses that the system cannot replace controllers or take over control of an aircraft.

Early results and expansion

The FAA says SMART has helped reroute 180 flights over the DC region since late September. According to the agency, each of those flights saved roughly 10 minutes of flying time and close to 80 gallons of fuel on average.

After the initial rollout, coverage grew to air route traffic control centres in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Miami, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. The agency gave that newspaper one example: SMART suggested a shorter, faster routing for a cargo flight arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The FAA did not name the flight and has not explained how the system has assisted passenger services.

Under the nationwide rollout, SMART will operate in all 22 air route traffic control centres in the country. The FAA says the aims are fewer delays, lower fuel use and a better experience for travellers.

Airline support, union concerns

Airline executives welcomed the technology. The FAA's September announcement included supportive statements from Delta Air Lines chief executive Ed Bastian and American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which represents more than 15,000 controllers, told Flying magazine that it was not consulted on the design, testing or implementation of SMART. The union said it therefore cannot speak to the system's effect on the controller workforce. Ars Technica notes the union's criticism as a claim from its side, not a finding by the FAA.

Why it matters

The expansion puts AI-generated advice into daily use across the whole US air traffic network, not just one region. Because controllers keep the final say and FAA specialists review the output, the FAA positions SMART as a decision aid rather than an automated system.

The debate over union involvement may shape how the rollout is received. Ars Technica has previously reported on the controller shortage and other pressures facing the FAA, and questions about how SMART works remain open.