The number of air accidents and resulting fatalities dropped in 2015 from the previous year, and was well below the 5-year average, IATA said. Some 68 accidents occurred last year, compared with 77 in 2014 and an annual average of 90 over the last 5 years, according to IATA's latest annual report on aviation safety. Of 2015's accidents, 4 were fatal, versus 12 a year earlier. "In terms of the number of fatal accidents, it was an extraordinarily safe year," Tony Tyler, IATA's director general said. The accidents covered by the report killed 136 people, down from 641 in 2014 and a 5-year average of 504, according to IATA. If the losses of aircraft in incidents involving planes operated by Germanwings and Metrojet last year are included, the total number of deaths rose to 510, according to IATA. <br/>
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Global airlines countered allegations of profiteering from low oil prices after renewed criticism that air fares have failed to come down in line with falling fuel costs. IATA director general Tony Tyler said that industry profitability remained fragile despite US$36b in airline industry profits forecast for 2016. "Certainly lower oil prices have helped, but that impact has been delayed and diluted in many parts of the world due to forward hedges at higher than market rates, as well as the rise of the US dollar against local currencies," Tyler said. Politicians and consumer groups in the US and Europe have called on airlines to cut fares as Brent oil prices dropped from $114 in mid-2014 to around $30 today. "It is nonsense… It is simply not the case that anyone is profiteering," Tyler said. <br/>
The body that represents airline pilots in the UK has called for handheld laser pointers to be classed as offensive weapons, after a Virgin Atlantic flight to the US was forced to return to Heathrow when its co-pilot was dazzled by a laser during take-off. Balpa said aircraft were being “attacked” by the devices “at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength”. It said the problem was becoming “more and more urgent”. Britain has strict safety standards for the handheld devices, usually sold as commercial pointers or novelty items. But experts are concerned at the ease with which much more powerful devices can be obtained online, usually from the Far East, and at the frequency of attacks on aircraft in flight. <br/>
Pratt & Whitney's new chief says the performance of suppliers is much better than year ago, easing concerns over its ability to execute a US$10b gamble on a new engine as it seeks to reclaim a once revered status in the jet industry. But the industry veteran said he knew how to find out whether the company's make-or-break production goals for the latest short-haul airplane engine are under strain. "I will get every engine serial number and will see the parts that are committed and if it supports the engine shipment date," Robert Leduc said. Leduc also played down concerns over aircraft demand, saying the company had seen no deferrals or cancellations. Developed at a cost of $10b, the Geared Turbofan engines claim to burn 15% less fuel and have already influenced the way some future jet engines are designed. <br/>
Southeast Asia requires 3,750 new aircraft worth US$550b in 20 years from 2015, a senior Boeing executive said ahead of the Singapore Airshow that starts Tuesday. Of this, 76% will be for single-aisle aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, said Dinesh Keskar, senior VP for Asia Pacific and India sales at Boeing. This will be largely driven by LCCs, and the growth of markets such as Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam, he added. Southeast Asian passenger traffic has grown by more than 9% since 2010, with intra-Southeast Asian traffic projected to increase by 7.7% over the next 20 years, said Keskar. The Asia Pacific region as a whole will absorb 14,550 aircraft, more than a third of the 39,050 aircraft that are required globally, according to Boeing's forecast. <br/>
Progress is being made toward reaching a comprehensive agreement between the ASEAN and the EU on an air services accord that would create a massive liberalised commercial aviation market, according to Singapore infrastructure and transport minister Khaw Boon Wan. Singapore has been a key player in pushing for the pact, which would create a liberalised air transport market between two regions with a combined population of 1.1b people. Khaw indicated that Qatar could also be included in an ASEAN-EU air services agreement, which would be the EU’s first bloc-to-bloc liberalised air transport accord. Khaw praised the ASEAN Single Aviation Market, but said its potential has been stifled by poor coordination between air navigation service providers in Southeast Asia. <br/>
The Transport Ministry Monday ordered all 14 Thai-registered carriers to submit flight cancellation contingency plans to prevent a repeat of a Nok Air incident Sunday in which 9 of its flights were suddenly cancelled, leaving more than 1,400 passengers in the lurch. Deputy transport minister Ormsin Chivapruck warned that any airline that failed to prevent a similar cancellation could have its aviation licence suspended and subsequently revoked. Plans must be submitted to the ministry within 30 days. Ormsin said that any sudden flight-service changes that affected passengers could result in a warning being issued to the airline in question. A second "offence" would result in suspension of its commercial aviation licence, which would be revoked on the third offence. <br/>