Etihad Airways Achieves Significant Efficiency Gains with APU & Cabin Temperature Monitoring Solution

Etihad Airways has taken a major step toward operational excellence and sustainability by becoming the first airline to implement AVIATAR's latest digital innovation across its entire fleet. In collaboration with FlightWatching (a REVIMA company) , Lufthansa Technik has expanded its AVIATAR platform with a cutting-edge application designed to optimize Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) usage and cabin temperature management.

“The operational demands of the Abu-dhabi environment leaves us with 2 weather conditions: Hot and Extremely Hot. And Cabin Temperature Management (Opticool) plays a vital role in elevating our Guest experience, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming cabin for our guests upon boarding.”

— Sujju Prasad , Manager Strategic Partnerships Digital, Etihad Airways

Leading the Rollout and Driving Efficiency

Etihad Airways spearheaded the rollout of this solution, reporting measurable improvements in efficiency and environmental impact within the first year of deployment. The initiative aligns with Etihad’s commitment to sustainability and operational excellence, delivering tangible benefits across flight, ground, and technical operations.

Key Features of the Solution

• Real-Time APU Monitoring: Tracks APU usage and connected ground support equipment, issuing alerts for overuse and dual power sources.
• Cabin Temperature Optimization: Provides predictive recommendations to reduce APU cooling time while maintaining passenger comfort.
• Integrated Analytics: Enables visualization of historical data for performance tracking and informed decision-making.
• Seamless Integration: Fully embedded in AVIATAR without requiring aircraft modifications or additional infrastructure.

Etihad’s Objectives and Achievements

The airline aimed to:

• Detect and prevent APU overruns at hubs, outstations, and during maintenance.
• Eliminate dual use of APU and ground equipment.
• Validate cooling performance of newly acquired Preconditioned Air Units (PCA) at Abu Dhabi.
• Identify airports with underutilized external power sources to optimize infrastructure.
• Improve stand allocation and timely PCA connection for ideal boarding temperatures.

Results after one year:

• 25% reduction in APU usage between Summer 2024 and Summer 2025.
• Seven-digit savings in fuel and maintenance costs.
• Over 17,000 tons of CO₂ saved, reinforcing Etihad’s sustainability goals.
• Enhanced on-time performance, passenger comfort, and cross-team efficiency.

At the Digital Tech Ops Forum 2025, taking place in Barcelona, Sujju Prasad explains: "Before deploying the solution, we had limited visibility into our ground operations. Now, we can make data-driven decisions that directly improve our efficiency and environmental footprint."

Available Now on AVIATAR

The application supports major aircraft types, including A320, A330, A350, A380, B737, B747, B767, B777, and B787, making it an ideal choice for airlines seeking cost savings, greener operations, and improved passenger experience - not only in areas with higher temperatures.

Etihad’s success with FlightWatching and AVIATAR’s APU & Cabin Temperature Monitoring solution underscores how digital innovation can deliver measurable sustainability and efficiency gains. As more airlines look to reduce costs and emissions while improving passenger comfort, this collaboration sets a strong precedent for the industry.

For carriers interested in exploring similar opportunities, AVIATAR welcomes inquiries and discussions on how this solution can be tailored to individual operational needs. Please reach out to digital-sales@lht.dlh.de for a demo.

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