In a recent op-ed published in Fortune, Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, laid out a compelling case for overhauling America’s air traffic control system. Drawing on his experience leading Alaska Airlines and its subsidiaries, including the recent integration of Hawaiian Airlines, Minicucci emphasizes collaboration across the aviation ecosystem. Industry insiders note that such tools address longstanding bottlenecks in air traffic management, where outdated radar-based systems often lead to inefficient holding patterns. A 2021 announcement in Alaska Airlines’ newsroom highlighted this as a “first-of-its-kind” deal, integrating machine learning to predict congestion hotspots hours in advance. Economically, smarter air traffic control could unlock billions in savings, from reduced fuel burn to minimized ground delays.