L'International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published its annual safety report for 2024. Industry delivers another year of strong overall safety performanceThis includes improvements on the five-year average for several key parameters. Nevertheless, the association notes a setback compared to the exceptional performance in 2023.
Accident rates on the rise in 2024
The accident rate was 1.13 per million flights (one accident per 880,000 flights). This is certainly better than the five-year average of 1.25, but worse than the rate of 1.09 recorded in 2023. More importantly, the number of fatal accidents rose sharply from one year to the next. From one to seven for 40.6 million flightss.
This figure is higher than the five-year average of five fatal accidents. In terms of on-board fatalities, IATA has recorded 244 in 2024, compared with 72 in 2023 and a five-year average of 144. Nevertheless, the risk of death remains low at 0.06.
" It is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare. There were 40.6 million flights in 2024 for seven fatal accidents. Moreover, the long-term history of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement. Ten years ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) was one accident for every 456,000 flights. Today, that figure is the five-year average (2020-2024) is one accident per 810,000 flights. We are increasingly determined to make flying even safer. And to do this, the accumulation of safety data, including this report, is our most powerful tool. "said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.
The impact of conflict zones
Conflict zones are one of the factors increasing risk. The crash of two aircraft in conflict zones (38 dead in Kazakhstan and five dead in Sudan) has reinforced the importance of the Safer Skies initiative, which facilitates protection measures in high-risk airspace. A major concern is the interference with the global navigation system by satellite (GNSS). This is the case, for example, over the Baltic Sea with interference from Russia.
" No civil aircraft should ever be the target - deliberate or accidental - of military operations. "said Willie Walsh. However, the most frequent accidents are still collisions with aircraft tails and runway overruns.
Africa still the least safe place to fly
By continent, l'Africa is still the most dangerous continent. With 10 accidents in 2024, the overall accident rate fell from 8.36 per million sectors in 2023 to 10.59 in 2024exceeding the five-year average of 8.46.
In comparison, theAsia-Pacific recorded seven accidents in 2024 an accident rate of 1.04 per million sectors in 2024. L'Europe recorded nine accidents in 2024 with an overall accident rate per million sectors of 1.02. At North AmericaIATA reports 12 accidents, i.e. an all-accident rate of 1.20 per million sectors in 2024.
