Iata has hailed 2012 as having the lowest passenger aircraft accident rate in history – the equivalent of one in every five million flights.
This represented a 46% improvement over 2011, when the accident rate was 0.37, or one accident for every 2.7 million flights.
There were 75 accidents last year, down from 92 in 2011. Of these there were 15 fatal accidents covering all aircraft types against 22 in the previous year with 414 deaths compared to 486.
Africa’s accident rate for all aircraft types almost doubled with 13 accidents in 2012, up from eight the previous year.
Iata director general and CEO Tony Tyler described the continent’s overall performance as “far from satisfactory”.
He said: It should be as safe to travel by air in Africa as it is in any other part of the world.”
Tyler added: “The industry’s 2012 record safety performance was the best in history.
“Each day approximately 100,000 flights arrive safely at their destination. Airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, manufacturers and safety regulators work together to ensure every flight is as safe as possible. Their dedication and co-operation has made air travel remarkably safe.
“Nevertheless, there is still work to do. Every accident is one too many and each fatality is a human tragedy.
“The first commercial airline flight took place on 1 January, 1914. Since then the airline industry has made continuous improvement in safety its top priority.”