Page 8 - AAA JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012 Online Magazine

Headline News

2011: Good

year for safety

Asian airlines saw accident
rates on a similar level to
major European and North
American airlines last year,
which globally was one of
the safest on record.
That was the message duction that reflects a trend to the highest international goals, to identify and ad-
from the Asia-Pacific Airline of continuous improvement standards, including wider dress a wide range of safety
Association (AAPA) in a year in aviation safety. deployment of automated ter- risk factors.”
when globally there were The AAPA warns that: rain awareness warning sys- Herdman emphasised the
eight major accidents in- “A review of all major ac- tems for all commercial op- importance of addressing
volving large western-built cidents that have occurred erations.,” notes the AAPA. runway excursions and incur-
commercial airline jets, five worldwide in 2011, has again Andrew Herdman, Di- sions, noting that, “AAPA ful-
of which resulted in a total identified runway related in- rector General of the AAPA ly supports ICAO initiatives
of 197 fatalities.”With only cidents as important risk fac- commented, “Credit must to further improve runway
one major accident, involv- tors, with nearly one third go to all aviation industry safety, and is working with
ing a freighter aircraft, Asia of accidents due to runway stakeholders for their ongo- other regional aviation safety
Pacific airlines maintained over-runs.” ing commitment and hard stakeholders to respond to
their excellent safety record, The statistics do not in- work in achieving this out- this challenge through the
which is fully comparable to clude turboprop aircraft, standing safety performance sharing of data and best safe-
that of the leading European which, the AAPA says, often in 2011. Passengers can rest ty management practices.”
and North American air- operate in more challenging assured that air travel re- He concluded, “AAPA
lines,” says the AAPA. environments, and experi- mains both extremely safe will continue in our efforts
Globally, the result re- ence higher accident rates, of- and highly secure.” to work with the region’s
flects an average jet aircraft ten due to navigation errors. He added, “Improved regulators and airlines to
loss rate of one major acci- “Many of these accidents safety performance has not address regional safety chal-
dent for every three million are believed to be prevent- occurred by chance, it is the lenges, with the shared aim
flights, which is half of the able, but it will require firmer result of continuing regula- of delivering further posi-
average loss rate for the last actions by regulators to en- tory and industry stakehold- tive improvements in safety
five years, a significant re- sure that all carriers operate er efforts, based on common performance.”

Etihad and Airberlin combine FFPs

Etihad Airways and Ger- and Gold Elite members will reciprocal benefits will be status and bonus miles across
man leisure carrier Air- enjoy additional status ben- available to Airberlin topbo- Airberlin’s network and enjoy
berlin have integrate their efits such as use of Airberlin’s nus members travelling with benefits such as use of air-
frequent flyer programs as priority check-in, priority Etihad Airways. berlin lounges and increased
part of the rollout of their boarding and increased bag- Etihad Airways Chief baggage allowances.
recent partnership. gage allowances on all routes. Commercial Officer Peter “With a combined net-
Etihad Guest and Airber- Etihad Guest Silver, Gold Baumgartner said: “This is work of 239 destinations, this
lin topbonus frequent flyer and Gold Elite members another tangible step in the frequent flyer deal amounts
program members will earn will also be able to access roll-out and integration of our to a fantastic proposition for
award and status miles on exclusive Airberlin waiting extensive partnership with Etihad Guest members as
each other’s airlines. areas at Berlin, Cologne and Airberlin. Etihad Guest mem- well as for Airberlin’s topbo-
Etihad Guest Silver, Gold Dusseldorf airports. Similar bers will now be able to earn nus program members.”

8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS January/February 2012 www.AsianAirlines-Airports.com