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By Hugh Cameron
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Americans have been dissuaded from flying due to the string of aircraft accidents that have occurred in the past few weeks and the rising costs of air travel.
According to a recent 1,000-person survey conducted by travel website Locals Insider, one in three Americans (33 percent) feel less safe flying after the recent aviation incidents. In addition, the firm found that 10 percent of respondents had postponed or even canceled a trip over these safety concerns.
Why It Matters
While most Americans still consider air travel a safe mode of transportation, the plane crashes that have occurred so far this year appear to have shaken some of the public's confidence in flying. The survey indicates that these concerns could translate into financial consequences for the industry if passengers' trust in air travel continues to decline.
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What To Know
A series of shocking and deadly aircraft incidents have been headlined this year.
Chief among these is the late January midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
This was soon followed by reports of 10 passengers dying in a Cessna aircraft crash in Nome, Alaska, and later, footage of a Delta Air Lines jet flipping upside down while arriving at Toronto Pearson Airport. No fatalities occurred in the latter incident.
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Locals Insider's findings reflect those of a recent Associated Press-NORC poll, conducted February 6 through February 10. The poll revealed that only 64 percent of Americans believe air travel is somewhat or very safe, down from 71 percent a year prior.
The number who said they considered air travel somewhat or very unsafe rose from 12 percent to 20 percent over the same period.
Locals Insider also found that passengers were being put off air travel due to rising airfare costs. According to their research, airline ticket prices have increased 7.1 percent year-over-year, with Washington Dulles International clocking in as the most expensive airport in the country with an average fare of $472.61.
What People Are Saying
Collin Czarnecki, who led Locals Insider's research, told Newsweek: "After January's fatal midair collision involving an American Airlines flight, and a series of near misses on runways, it's no surprise that travelers are feeling uneasy about flying right now. Ongoing staffing shortages and cuts at the FAA are only adding to these concerns."
"While air travel remains statistically safe, it's clear that recent high-profile incidents have shaken traveler confidence," he added.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former accident investigator for the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told Newsweek that the three accidents mentioned above "constitute a disturbing trend that has rarely been seen in nearly two decades."
However, he added that commercial aviation "is still incredibly safe, even with the recent accidents."
Aviation attorney Erin Applebaum told Newsweek in December that public confidence in aviation safety had been brought to near all-time lows due to incidents involving Boeing aircraft and the high number of runway near-misses recorded throughout the year.
What Happens Next
The NTSB is still investigating the reasons behind the January 29 crash in D.C. and is expected to release a preliminary report soon.
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