Tokyo, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), a leading Japanese cargo airline, announced today that it has chosen the SkyBreathe® eco-flying solution to reduce fuel costs and CO₂ emissions. Developed by the French company OpenAirlines, SkyBreathe® is the leading solution in the marketplace. It leverages Big Data and AI to help NCA strengthen its decarbonization strategy and significantly enhance the efficiency of its operations.
With the rising cost of kerosene and the target set by IATA to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, airlines are under immense economic pressure. This collaboration is part of NCA's ongoing commitment to continuously improve flight efficiency while managing fuel consumption. By adopting SkyBreathe®, the airline embraces an advanced solution that uses Big Data to intelligently analyze flight data to uncover fuel-saving opportunities and drive actionable strategies for reducing its carbon footprint.
Already adopted by over 72 airlines worldwide, SkyBreathe® can reduce fuel consumption by up to 5%, resulting in significant CO₂ and operational cost savings.
The solution is designed to empower many stakeholders to contribute effectively to the fuel program with concrete recommendations for pilots, flight operations managers, fuel managers, dispatchers, and maintenance engineers, fostering cooperation and a culture of eco-performance.
With the integrated feature SkyBreathe® Advisor, NCA will benefit from the first domain-trained AI dedicated to operational efficiency. Embedded in the SkyBreathe® 360° ecoflying platform, this intelligent assistant helps fuel teams prioritize the most impactful initiatives by providing smart, actionable recommendations. Built on the world’s largest fuel efficiency dataset, with over 15 million flights and more than a decade of operational data, SkyBreathe® Advisor leverages advanced algorithms to automate complex analyses, boost productivity, and maximize fuel savings.
As part of this partnership, NCA will also integrate the SkyBreathe® MyFuelCoach app, a fuel assistant explicitly designed for pilots. The app provides personalized feedback to pilots before and after each flight, enabling them to gain deeper insights into the environmental performance of their flight, identify concrete areas for improvement, and apply simple, effective techniques to reduce fuel consumption. By supporting pilots with tailored guidance, SkyBreathe® MyFuelCoach will actively contribute to NCA’s broader efficiency strategy, strengthening the alignment between in-flight actions and the airline’s overall environmental and operational goals.
“We are pleased to introduce SkyBreathe® in partnership with OpenAirlines. We will utilize the accumulated flight data to further strengthen our efforts to improve flight efficiency and reduce our environmental impact, while raising awareness throughout the company and promoting ESG management.” Hiroyuki Homma, President & Chief Executive Officer of Nippon Cargo Airlines
“We are proud to support Nippon Cargo Airlines in their progress and operational efficiency goals. This partnership marks our first collaboration in Japan, and we are confident that the SkyBreathe® platform will enable NCA to fully leverage its flight data to make informed decisions while engaging its entire team in an efficiency-driven culture.” continued Alexandre Feray, CEO of OpenAirlines.
By choosing SkyBreathe®, NCA joins a global community of industry players committed to more responsible aviation. This partnership illustrates the shared vision between NCA and OpenAirlines: a more sustainable aviation industry that combines economic performance with environmental responsibility.
Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), based at Narita International Airport, is a Japanese cargo airline operating a fleet of eight Boeing 747-8F aircraft. Since its founding in 1978, NCA has built a cargo network connecting major logistics hubs in Asia, the Americas, and Europe, meeting a wide range of transportation needs. In this milestone year marking the 40th anniversary of its first commercial flight, NCA is actively working to improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact, aiming to realize more sustainable operations in response to changing times.
More information: https://www.nca.aero/
OpenAirlines is a privately-owned company comprising a team of highly qualified mathematicians, aeronautical engineers, data scientists, pilots, IT experts, and aircraft performance specialists who operate from its bases in Toulouse, Hong Kong, Miami, and Montreal.
The French clean-tech is specialized in developing digital technology to help airlines achieve their sustainability and emissions targets. They developed SkyBreathe®, a comprehensive eco-flying solution for airlines to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions, today used by 70+ airlines worldwide, including, Atlas Air, DHL, Norwegian, Air France, IndiGo, and Korean Air.
More information: https://www.openairlines.com
Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd.
Public Relations
Phone: +81-476-30-394
E-mail：ncapr@nca.aero
OpenAirlines
Solveig Moisan, Chief Marketing Officer
solveig.moisan@openairlines.com
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