IATA releases annual safety report for 2024 detailing industry performance

Key safety insights include rising conflict zone risks, with two aircraft downed in conflict zones resulting in fatalities! and tail strikes and runway excursions being the most common types of accidents.

Airlines on the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry had an accident rate of .92 per million flights, significantly lower than non-IOSA carriers' rate of .70.

Conf lict Zones: The Need for Action

“No civil aircraft should ever be a target—deliberate or accidental—of military operations," said Walsh., urging governments to enhance intelligence- sharing and establish clearer global protocols to safeguard civilian aviation.

Regional Safety Performance varied across different areas:

- North America saw improvements with an all-accident rate reduced from .53 per million sectors in'23 to .20in'24.

- Asia-Pacific's all-accident rate increased slightly but remained below its five-year regional average.

- Africa recorded the highest accident rate at !0..59per mil lion sectors.

- Middle East and North Africa improved their al l-acci dent rale lo !08from!!12in'23.

- Commonwealth of Independent States reported no acc idents In'24,

improving from previous years'' averages-.49over fi ve years-.

Europe saw a sl i ght increase In Its al l-acci dent rale lo !02from..95in'23

North Asia reported one acc ident wi th an al l-acci dent rale bet ter than ils- f ive year average-.16per mi ll ion sectors Latin Ameri ca & Caribbean had f ive- acc idents wi th Increased fa tal i ty ri sk compared lo previ ous years

Strengthening Safety Through Timely Reports

Delayed or incomplete accident reports deny critical stakeholders vital insights needed for further improving aviation safety.. Only57%of obl igated- reports were completed between20!8--23as revealed by IATAs analysis-"Acc ident- investigation isa vi tal toolfor improv ing globalaviat ion safel y,"said Walsh- emphasizing Ihe needfor t imely accessible reports according Annex!3Chicago- Convent ion obl igations Sharp Ri se GNSS Interference Poses Growing Ri sk Data- shows Increased GNSS-re lated interference wh ich can mis lead ai rcraft nav igat - ion systems-"The sharp ri sein GNSS interference events deeply concerning Re li - able nav igat ion fundamental safe eff ic ient fl i ght operat ions Immediate step - governments ai rnav igat ion serv ice prov iders needed stop th is pract ice impro - ve s ituat tonal awareness ensure ai rl ines necessary tools operate safely al l - areas" added Walsh