Fortune India
The safety of flying remains very high, but the experience and reliability of air travel have taken a hit in recent years due to several compounding issues.
Post-COVID, global flight demand is at an all-time high. Airlines are expanding routes with thinner margins, often using older, smaller aircraft, straining airports, air traffic control, and maintenance staff.
Post-pandemic layoffs, a surge in early retirements, and insufficient training has created a pilot shortage. This forces some pilots to fly longer hours with tighter turnarounds, increasing burnout and the risk of error.
Financially strained, many airlines opted to extend the use of older planes rather than ordering new ones. This decision has been linked to a rise in incidents, including technical issues and emergency landings, often attributed to delayed maintenance or aging systems.
Climate change is escalating the frequency and intensity of severe turbulence, sudden storms, and wind shear. These increasingly common phenomena pose significant challenges to both flight safety and passenger comfort.
Delays, cancellations, overbooking, and lost baggage are now more common. This is largely because staffing shortages in ground crews, security, and airline customer service are slowing down recovery from disruptions.
Fatal plane crashes are exceedingly rare; you're statistically more likely to be struck by lightning. This exceptional safety record is thanks to incredibly strict modern aviation regulations, where every incident prompts extensive reviews and update