Most accidents that do occur are still due to human limitations and component failures that were not expected in time, but commercial aircraft remains one of the safest means of transport. Two types of technologies provide the potential of addressing these limitations. The first is artificial-intelligence (AI) based decision support systems that allow flight crews and controllers to make better decisions under time pressure. The second is AI-based predictive maintenance that predictions component failures before they occur. This thesis presents, based on the existing scientific and regulatory literature, how these technologies enhance the operating safety of aircraft and what future they create.