The world has been hit by one of the biggest crises in recent decades. Coronavirus has hit almost every country in the world and at present no one can predict any further developments. Commercial aviation is one of the industries that first felt huge losses due to this pandemic. In our previous text we wrote about expected losses, but the true summary will only be seen when the danger of the virus passes.
Nevertheless, we believe that the airline industry will recover relatively quickly as it has many times before. Air travel is certainly irreplaceable when it comes to the long haul. In addition, according to statistics, this is also the safest way to travel. The crash rates and the number of accident deaths are incomparably higher when it comes to car accidents.
IATA reports
Flying as a mode transport is safer than it has ever been. The latest IATA statistics show continued long-term safety improvements in the commercial aviation industry. IATA takes into consideration only “unintentional” accidents, which are not related to deliberate acts, such as those of suicidal pilots or terrorism. Collateral or indirect victims of a plane crash are not considered.
Air travel fatalities have been recorded in each of the last 12 years, with a total of 287 deaths in 2019 due to air crashes. Every human loss is a tragedy, but you will agree that this global data shows how much safer flying is than any other transport. Last year passengers flew safely on nearly 50 million flights. There is no doubt that air travel is getting safer every year. Flying remains to be the safest form of long-distance travel the world has ever known.
European Union for even greater security
Given that this is one of the most common modes of transport, the EU has taken special measures to make it as safe as possible. The European Union (EU) ensures that all European citizens can enjoy the same high level of safety in the sky. EU aviation safety policy promotes rules that are cost-efficient and facilitate the free movement of products, services, and persons involved in civil aviation.
Within the framework of all the activities that have been undertaken on this topic recently, a Commission proposal for a new framework for aviation safety regulation, which aims to prepare the EU aviation safety system for the challenges of the future, should be emphasized.
The airline industry has been made greatly careful not to commit any errors, no matter how large or small. The technology used is in constant progression and sophistication. Planes contain turbulence detection programming that can predict the intensity, altitude, and movement of turbulence. A long time ago electronic controls have replaced outdated mechanical controls, which made the responsibility of a pilot to steer a plane very smoothly.
Some more stats and psychology
If all of this has not convinced you, here are the exact numbers that support the claim that air travel is one of the safest form of travel. You only have a 1 in 9,821 chance of dying from an air and space transport incident. Compared to drivers who have a 1 in 114 chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash, and a 1 in 654 chance of dying as a car occupant, you can definitely see the difference.
However, there are many who still consider air travel more dangerous than road and therefore have great fear. The reason for this lies in the fact that people believe they are in complete control of their safety when they are behind the wheel. People feel a lot more anxiety in situations they can’t control or at least don’t have the illusion of control.
Another reason for fear has its source in psychology. We make a judgment based on what we can remember rather than complete data. Vivid, memorable images, such as plane crashes that are magnified by the news and TV and film industry stick in the public memory. Because of this, many people develop discomfort when it comes to flying. Traveling by air is still the safest means of transportation in the world.
