I have used the autoplay mod. extensively through the patches, to see just AI air activity. Before R&F the AI actually build planes and used them. When the game came out, no AI useed any plane but some patches in (don't remember exactly what patch) the AI all of a sudden started to use planes. They built them late however but they used them. But then around R&F, the AI stopped (again). With the latest patch, I see the AI bomb again and also rebase bombers (that has also been a problem). I did some autoplay games before the latest patch. In one of them. An AI (Rome) actually won a domination victory. I noticed that the AI in that game didn't rebase their bombers. They rebase/redeploy their fighters (to act as interceptors), but they never rebase bombers. In the autoplay with Rome, Rome bombed with its bombers (they had a lot) if the bombers could reach anything but since I used the star-shaped map their aerodromes was near their starting area, far from anyone else. In my "after the spring patch" autoplay I saw the AI bomb and rebase their bombers (again). The AI don't focus on planes however, but when they have them, they use them, and give it time, all the AI build planes (usually someone has won by then though).
Since the AI actually know how to use bombers and to some degree fighters, I would want the following patched or modded in:
* Planes should have a slightly higher priority. They use the them if they have them, they usually build them one area later than usually.
* Fighters should bomb more often. They do bomb with them, but it is rare.
* They should build flak units to protect their units more often. There has been reports that AI actually have built them but I have never seen it.
* And now when they actually rebase planes again, I would love to see an AI carrier (in the eyes of the AI, I guess they are mobile airstrips). I have seen one carrier, but it didn't have any planes on it.
I've never felt the need to build air units myself, so I don't see why the AI should waste resources on something I've never considered that worthwhile.
But if the AI built bombers sooner you will feel the need to build air units yourself. That would be the whole idea.