After months of searching for bold new ideas to enhance the guest experience in air travel, two startups have been selected as winners of the Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge.
Launched by Innovate Calgary’s Aerospace Innovation Hub, in partnership with Calgary Airports (formerly, The Calgary Airport Authority) and WestJet, the challenge invited startups and small to medium-sized enterprises from around the world to bring forward game-changing technologies that deliver tangible benefits to travelers.
The winners — RozieAI Journey and Shift AI — are now set to collaborate with industry leaders to test and deploy solutions that could transform the passenger journey from booking to arrival.
The Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge is a showcase of what happens when industry and innovators work together to address real-world problems. And when the challenge was first announced earlier this year, Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of Calgary Airports, underscored the value of collaboration:
“At Calgary Airports, we’re always looking for ways to make the travel experience smoother, more enjoyable and truly memorable for our guests, and we know we can’t do it alone. Innovators bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas that can help us tackle challenges in new ways.”
That vision is now being realized with the selection of RozieAI Journey and Shift AI, whose solutions embody the kind of traveler-focused innovation the program, and the Aerospace Innovation Hub, set out to inspire.
Megan Gupton, Chief Information Officer at Calgary Airports, added:
“The Aerospace Innovation Hub can have a transformative impact on both the local aerospace ecosystem and the broader industry by attracting national and international companies to Calgary, boosting local employment and investment, and positioning Calgary as a global leader in aerospace innovation.”
WestJet echoed the importance of the initiative, describing the challenge as a catalyst for transformation. By embedding startups in a “living lab” environment with access to operational data and subject matter experts, the airline sees the program as accelerating technologies that directly improve the guest experience and streamline operations.
“By offering mentorship, operational access, and validation opportunities, we’re helping startups turn bold ideas into impactful solutions,” said Anne-Louise Brooks, Digital Community and Eco-Systems Specialist at WestJet.
Winner Spotlight: RozieAI Journey
Airports and airlines often provide guests with fragmented information, from baggage rules to check-in to boarding, leaving travelers to navigate a stressful maze of uncertainty. Tackling this challenge is RozieAI Journey, a platform that curates the passenger experience from home to gate through hyper-personalized, real-time support.
“Guests miss opportunities to resolve issues because services are poorly timed or disconnected from their real needs,” explained Vinay Sukumar, Head of Product & Innovation, RozieAI Journey. “RozieAI Journey solves this by creating a single, journey-aware layer where airlines and airports can jointly position and deliver services. Whether it’s check-in, security updates, baggage, retail, or boarding, the platform adapts to the traveler’s actual context, not organizational silos.”
The solution improves efficiency and reduces stress for passengers, deepens loyalty, and unlocks new revenue opportunities for operators.
For RozieAI Journey, the challenge has been a pivotal opportunity.
“It gave us the chance to prove our impact in a live, high-volume environment with organizations that serve tens of millions of passengers annually,” said Sukumar. “The program has set the stage for expanding our proven results to a broader network of industry leaders.”
Winner Spotlight: Shift AI
For Shift AI, the challenge was about visibility and operational efficiency. Their solution focuses on real-time asset tracking and predictive insights, making sure that ground support vehicles, PRM (Passengers with Reduced Mobility) transport, and other critical assets are in the right place, at the right time, and safe to use.
“In aerospace, every asset plays a role in keeping operations safe and on time. But without accurate, real-time data, it’s difficult to know where things are, how they’re performing, or when they might fail,” explained Sana Srithas, Co-Founder and COO of Shift AI. “By turning raw data into actionable insights, we help teams make better decisions, improve safety, and reduce costs, while creating smoother passenger experiences.”
She emphasized that even small operational gaps can ripple out to affect passengers directly.
“What people don’t always realize is how something very small behind the scenes can have a big impact on a passenger’s journey. Even a short delay in finding a fuel truck or a baggage cart can ripple across the schedule, causing late departures, missed connections, and a frustrating experience. By giving teams visibility into where assets are and whether they’re ready, you reduce those hidden delays - and passengers feel the difference in smoother, more reliable journeys.”
Shift AI sees the challenge as a turning point.
“This is more than validation. It’s the chance to co-create with leaders like WestJet and Calgary Airports, and to build something here that can scale far beyond this challenge and become part of the next generation of aerospace operations,” Srithas added.
Looking Ahead
For Calgary Airports, programs like this are a direct extension of its mission to create a smooth, enjoyable, and memorable journey for every guest.
“The Aerospace Innovation Hub anchors a living lab at the airport, where startups can test and validate technologies in the real-world airport and airline environment, attracting international talent and investment,” said Megan Gupton.
For Innovate Calgary, the challenge reflects a larger vision to position Calgary as a hub for global aerospace innovation.
“Our goal at Innovate Calgary’s Aerospace Innovation Hub is to help startups turn bold ideas into real-world solutions,” said Nima Najand, Senior Director, Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary. “The Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge highlights how collaboration with partners like WestJet and Calgary Airports can shape the future of travel while positioning Calgary as a leader in aerospace innovation.”
Looking to the future, Christian Novosel, Chief Digital Officer at WestJet, added: “Initiatives like the Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge will play a pivotal role in shaping Canada’s aerospace future. By fostering collaboration between industry leaders, academic institutions, and government partners, we’re building a resilient and forward-thinking innovative ecosystem. Calgary is emerging as a global hub for aerospace innovation, and WestJet is committed to driving this momentum forward.”
As RozieAI Journey and Shift AI begin their collaboration with Calgary Airports, WestJet, and Innovate Calgary, the focus is on delivering innovations passengers can experience.