Popular flight-tracking app Flighty is releasing a new version on Tuesday that uses machine learning and data from aviation authorities to provide early warnings of delays and tell users the exact reason for the delay.
With the release of Flight 4.0, the app will track the two biggest causes of delays – flight delays and airspace issues – and notify users of delays before the airlines do. The update aims to help users make more informed decisions about their travel plans by providing information that airlines don't typically provide.
For example, an airline may delay your trip by 30 minutes, an hour, etc. Flighty, on the other hand, will let you know in advance that your flight may be delayed by 5 hours due to an official ground stop at the airport, weather issues, etc. With this information, you can take action such as rebooking your flight or waiting a little longer before heading to the airport.
Flighty currently monitors all traceable delay reasons, including late flight arrivals, air traffic control notifications, airport operational issues, events like the Super Bowl, and gives you information about your trip. Once the app analyzes the data, it displays clear notifications. You might see a notification that reads, “45 minutes delayed due to flight delay from New York.”
Image credit: Flighty
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, delayed inbound flights cause up to 35% of delays. Flighty 4.0 uses machine learning to predict these delays up to six hours before airlines become aware of them. The company claims its predictions are more than 95% accurate.
Air traffic control is the second most common cause of delays, including factors like waiting out a storm or spacing out flights to prevent taxiway congestion. Flighty now leverages air traffic control data and deciphers it for specific flights, letting you know how a delay will affect you.
The latest version of the app also includes live performance trends for the airport. This is because sometimes the problem is not with the plane, but with the airport as a whole. In such situations, the app now includes a live performance feature of the airport's takeoffs and landings, allowing you to make sure the airport is operating normally.
Flighty 4.0 is available today for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac. The new features are available with a Flighty Pro subscription, priced at $4 for a week or $48 for a year.
Launched in 2019, Flighty boasts millions of users and is a 2023 Apple Design Award winner. Flighty acts as both a flight companion and a travel log: you can add past and future flights to the app using flight numbers and booking references from Mail, Calendar, TripIt, or manually.