Europe Upholds Its Reputation as One of the Safest Regions to Fly

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released its Annual Safety Review (ASR) 2025, providing an in-depth assessment of aviation safety performance during 2024 and comparing the findings with long-term trends across the past decade. 

As a cornerstone of the European Safety Risk Management (SRM) framework, the ASR directly supports the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS). Together, these mechanisms guide Europe’s strategic approach to current and emerging risks in aviation, ensuring both resilience and adaptability in an evolving industry. 

While Europe continues to rank among the safest regions worldwide for air travel, EASA underscores that constant vigilance remains indispensable. Safety outcomes result not only of mature regulatory oversight but also of a culture of continuous monitoring, proactive risk management, and the ability to absorb lessons from both incidents and near misses. 

The agency also highlights emerging areas of concern that require close attention, particularly the increasing integration of drones (UAS) into civilian airspace and the rapid introduction of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence in flight operations and air traffic management. These innovations promise improvements in efficiency and capacity but also demand rigorous oversight to prevent new categories of risk. 

EASA’s review reveals that air traffic in Europe staged a strong recovery during 2024, consolidating the rebound from the disruption caused by the COVID19 pandemic: 

• More than 7.7 million flights were operated within the region. 

• 623 Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders contributed to this activity. 

  
  

These figures reflect not only restored passenger confidence but also the aviation sector’s operational resilience, supported by coordinated regulatory measures and industry-wide adaptation across Europe. 

Looking beyond Europe, global aviation safety performance remained broadly stable. In 2024, there were: 

• 14 fatal accidents reported worldwide. 

• 304 lives lost as a result. 

  
  

While these numbers align with the decade-long average, EASA stresses the importance of avoiding complacency. The data serves as a reminder that aviation safety is never static. Each major accident carries unique lessons for regulators, operators, and manufacturers, reinforcing the imperative of data-driven safety analysis and preventive action. 

The ASR 2025 illustrates that Europe’s aviation safety architecture is both effective and forward looking. The combination of regulatory frameworks, close monitoring of systemic risks, and anticipation of technological shifts has been instrumental in maintaining high levels of safety. 

However, the review also signals that maintaining Europe’s leading safety record will require adaptive governance. This includes enhancing cyber resilience, building safety frameworks for new entrants such as drones and urban air mobility vehicles, and ensuring the human factor, particularly training and oversight, remains central in an increasingly automated environment. 

EASA’s Annual Safety Review 2025 provides reassurance that air travel in Europe remains exceptionally safe, while also reminding stakeholders of the dynamic nature of aviation risk. The path ahead calls for agility and foresight as technological and operational shifts reshape the industry.