A recent survey has revealed a growing trend among travelers: they are increasingly taking aircraft type into consideration before booking flights. This shift in behavior comes amid rising concerns about aircraft safety, even though a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that flying has become significantly safer over the past decade.
The survey, conducted by digital analytics company Quantum Metric in June, found that 20% of travelers are now researching the aircraft they will be flying on before making a booking. This trend is further highlighted by the fact that 22% of respondents indicated they are limiting their air travel for the remainder of the year. Overall, the survey found that 55% of travelers have adjusted their flight booking habits due to recent news surrounding aircraft and airlines. While the survey didn’t explicitly mention Boeing Co., the company has been under significant media scrutiny since a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
Despite the heightened fear of flying, the MIT study, published in the Journal of Air Transport Management, provides reassuring data. The study found that the risk of dying on a commercial flight globally was one in 13.7 million passenger boardings from 2018 to 2022. This represents a substantial improvement from the previous decade and a stark contrast to the one death for every 350,000 boardings that occurred between 1968 and 1977. However, the study also highlights geographical disparities in flight safety, categorizing the world into three tiers. Tier 1 and Tier 2 countries, including the US, European Union, Australia, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and others, have a death risk of 1 per 80 million passenger boardings. In contrast, Tier 3 countries face a fatality risk 36 times higher than Tier 1 countries.
The shift in booking habits can be attributed to several recent safety incidents involving airlines. In June, a United Airlines Holdings Inc. flight had to make an emergency landing after losing part of an engine liner. This incident, alongside other mishaps that year, has placed the airline under regulatory scrutiny. However, efforts to enhance flight safety are also underway. In May, Airbus SE showcased its Optimate demonstrator vehicle at VivaTech, Europe’s largest technology event. This vehicle, equipped with basic A350 airliner controls, demonstrated how automated taxiing could mitigate ground collision risks. While concerns about aircraft safety may be on the rise, the data suggests that flying continues to become safer. The ongoing efforts to improve safety measures and the advancements in aviation technology are contributing to a safer future for air travel.
