According to the Geneva-based Aircraft Crashes Records
Office, fewer people died in aircraft crashes last year than at any time
since 1947, according to figures released this week. The records are based
on most aircraft with the capacity to carry six passengers in its calculations
and include commercial and private flights, rescue aircraft, cargo planes
and military transporters.
The death toll was 1,379 worldwide and the total number
of accidents, 154, was the lowest for 37 years.
Most of the serious incidents took place in the first
half of the year, with three major crashes in May. That month saw the
year's worst accident in Taiwan, involving a China Airlines Boeing
747-200, which killed 225 people.
Although around 45 percent of accidents were in North
and South America that was a 14 percent reduction on the previous year.
Crash figures in Asia, however, rose by 15 percent. Europe saw a 4 percent
drop in accident numbers, but in Africa the figure rose by 5 percent.
The 46 crashes in the United States mostly involved small
planes. There were no deaths on commercial or cargo aircraft in the US
according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Australian aviation authorities have warned that the country's
air links with Papua New Guinea could be severed at the end of
January 2003 because of concerns over safety standards. The well used
daily service between the capital Port Moresby and Cairns, flown by Air
Niugini, is under threat unless PNG's civil aviation authority
matches up to international air safety requirements.
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A passenger travelling club class on a British Airways
flight from London to Los Angeles was found dead in a bathroom. A newspaper
report said the middle-aged man, who is believed to be a Swiss national,
was found hanged.
Members of the cabin crew broke into the bathroom after
it had been closed for 30 minutes and concerns were raised about the person
inside. A doctor who was on the flight tried to save the man, but he was
already dead.
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In 2003 British Airways is going to withdraw services
from Leeds-Bradford and Cardiff. In April 2003 it will begin
flying from London City Airport for the first time, launching three
new routes to Frankfurt, Paris and Glasgow. BA also plans a major boost
to its Manchester flights, adding more capacity and three new routes.
The bad news is that BA plans to cut 21 routes to be announced.
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Scandinavian airline SAS have just announced a
low fare private travellers program from March 30, 2003, serving European
destinations where SAS does not normally operate.
Although the new service will have its own identity, it
will not be a separate airline. The as-yet unnamed operation will be a
business unit of SAS.
Travellers will be able to fly from Copenhagen to Alicante,
Athens, Bologna, Lisbon, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Pristina and Sarajevo.
Flights are also planned from Stockholm Arlanda to Alicante, Athens, Barcelona,
Bologna, Budapest, Dublin, Istanbul, Malaga, Nice, Prague and Rome.
“It should be inexpensive and easy to travel. Travellers
will experience a totally new concept. We offer only one-way trips, one
class, no advanced booking rules and tickets must be booked and paid at
the same time,” said Eva-Karin Dahl, who is responsible for the new
concept. Passengers will also pay for on-board food and drink.
A unique Internet site is being developed for ticket sales
but, initially, tickets will be available via SAS's ordinary sales
channels as well as through agents.
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Middle East carrier Gulf Air, owned by Bahrain,
Abu Dhabi and Oman, is to launch the region's first all-economy class,
full service airline later this year aimed largely at the leisure market
and the large number of overseas workers in the area.
The airline, which will operate under its own name and
have its own livery, will make its first flight from Abu Dhabi, capital
of the United Arab Emirates, in June.
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