Safest year for air travel
12th December 2011
This year is set to become the safest on record for air passengers, with all world regions, apart from Russia, having seen improvements to services
According to global airline safety rates, 2011 is set to become the safest on record for air travel, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said. Taking into consideration the total number of fatal accidents and passenger deaths, the IATA has said that safety services have improved by almost 50% in the first 11 months of this year.
As of 30 November 2011, the total number of recorded fatal accidents was 22, with 486 deaths of passenger and crew, compared to 23 accidents in 2010 with 786 deaths.
The global rate of safety as determined by the IATA, measures its member's safety performances by the number of accidents and aircraft losses per million take-offs. The IATA's membership currently includes some 240 airlines in 118 countries, accounting for 84% of global air traffic.
According to the IATA, all world regions have seen notable improvements of services, even in regions such as Africa, which have long been known as the most dangerous for air travel.
The only countries that have failed to see improvements, are Russia and others linked to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The overall global rate of safety for 2011 has been calculated at 4.57, compared to 6.85 in 2010. But Russia, and the CIS have a rate of 11.07 so far this year, which has risen from 7.15 in 2010.
Russia's most high-profile accident in 2011, was a crash earlier in September that took the lives of 45 passengers, including 37 members of the local ice hockey squad. Recent reports say the accident was the result of inadequate pilot training, and that the co-pilot was under the influence of banned sedatives.
Günther Matschnigg, the Senior Vice President of Safety, Operations and Infrastructure at the IATA said at a briefing that aviation officials in Russia have accepted pilot training needs rapid improvements, and that they will shortly be implementing the IATA's safety programme.
More like this
To fly or not to fly? That is the environmental question | Destinations... More
Don't want to take to the air? Travel around the world without flying | Advice... More
Fly without fear with this top-notch advice | Destinations... More
Keep up with current travel and wildlife news | News... More