The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its 2024 Annual Safety Report, offering a comprehensive look at the state of global aviation safety and air travel.
While the industry maintains a strong overall performance, the report highlights both advancements and areas requiring heightened attention.
2024: A Year of Mixed Results
The 2024 report indicates a slight regression from the strong safety record achieved in 2023. The all-accident rate was calculated at 1.13 per million flights. This breaks down to one accident per 880,000 flights.
It bettered the five-year average of 1.25, but was worse than the 1.09 figure recorded in 2023.
Fatal Accidents Rise
Furthermore, the number of fatal accidents rose to seven in 2024, compared to a single instance in 2023. These seven accidents occurred amidst 40.6 million flights, resulting in 244 on-board fatalities.
This figure represents a significant increase from the 72 fatalities reported in 2023 and the five-year average of 144.
While the fatality risk remains relatively low at 0.06, it has doubled from the 0.03 recorded in 2023, though remains below the five-year average of 0.10.
A Reminder of Aviation’s Fundamental Safety
“Even with recent high-profile aviation accidents, it is crucial to remember that accidents are extremely rare,” emphasizes Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “There were 40.6 million flights in 2024 and seven fatal accidents. Moreover, the long-term story of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement.”
Walsh points to the significant progress made over the past decade. “A decade ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) was one accident for every 456,000 flights.”
“Today, the five-year average (2020-2024) is one accident for every 810,000 flights. That improvement is because we know that every fatality is one too many.”
Key Safety Insights
The 2024 report sheds light on several critical safety trends:
Conflict Zone Risks: The tragic downing of two aircraft in conflict zones underscores the urgent need for enhanced safeguards for air travel. The IATA “Safer Skies” initiative, created after the PS752 tragedy, aims to improve safety in high-risk airspace.
Common Accident Types: Tail strikes and runway excursions remain the most frequently reported accidents, highlighting the importance of robust take-off and landing safety measures. Notably, there were no controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accidents in 2024.
IOSA Certification: Airlines registered under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) demonstrated a significantly lower accident rate (0.92 per million flights) compared to non-IOSA carriers (1.70).
Conflict Zones: A Call for Urgent Action
While accidents related to conflict zones are classified as security-related events and are not included in the core safety data, they remain a paramount concern. The rising incidents of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference further amplify the need for global coordination.
“No civil aircraft should ever be a target—deliberate or accidental—of military operations,” asserts Walsh. “Governments must step up, enhance intelligence-sharing, and establish clearer global protocols to prevent such tragedies and safeguard civilian aviation.”
Regional Safety Performance
The report provides a detailed breakdown of regional safety performance:
North America: Demonstrated improvement in the all-accident rate, with a continued zero fatality risk since 2020.
Asia-Pacific: Experienced a slight increase in the all-accident rate, but remained below the regional five-year average.
Africa: Recorded the highest accident rate, emphasizing the need for continued focus on safety improvements through initiatives like the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP).
Middle East and North Africa: Showed improvement in the all-accident rate and maintained a zero fatality risk. However, GNSS interference is a growing concern.
Commonwealth of Independent States: Achieved a zero all-accident rate in 2024, but faces challenges related to GNSS interference and regional conflicts.
Europe: Saw a slight increase in the all-accident rate, with tail strikes and runway excursions being the most common accident types.
North Asia: Observed a slight increase in the all-accident rate, with a tail strike being the single reported accident.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Experienced an increase in the all-accident rate, but remained below the five-year average.
The Path Forward
The IATA 2024 Safety Report serves as a critical tool for identifying trends, addressing challenges, and driving continuous improvement in aviation safety and air travel.
By leveraging data-driven insights and fostering global collaboration, the aviation industry remains committed to making flying safer for everyone.
