Your attention, please
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific|September/October 2024
After a string of recent incidents involving extreme turbulence, we chart the history of the inflight safety video to see if the latest crop is up to the task...
HANNAH RALPH
Your attention, please

In a pleasing case of nominative determinism, British Airways' Flying with Confidence director, captain Steve Allright, once reassured me: "Remember that turbulence is uncomfortable but rarely dangerous. It is a perfectly normal part of flying caused by nature." And he's right: out of the circa-400 million flights that took place between 2009 and 2022, there were according to data from the US Federal Aviation Administration - 34 passengers and 129 crew members recorded as seriously injured due to turbulence. The last fatality caused by turbulence on a commercial flight was in 1997, during United Airlines' Flight 826 from Tokyo to Honolulu. That was, until the spring of 2024.

On May 21, severe turbulence on Singapore Airlines' flight SQ321 saw the death of one British passenger, and scores injured when the aircraft experienced a sudden drop of 178 feet in just four seconds. That same month, a case of freak turbulence during a 50-minute flight from Istanbul to Izmir was reported to have left one Turkish Airlines flight attendant with a broken back. The subsequent day, eight passengers would wind up in hospital following a turbulent Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin. In all three incidents, it was those standing, and those seated without their seatbelts fastened, who were launched into the roof of the cabin.

And while it's true that your drive to the airport remains exponentially riskier than the flight itself (air travel remains the safest mode of transport, with no hull losses or fatal accidents involving passenger jet aircraft in 2023), researchers believe turbulence will only gain pace alongside global warming. "We have evidence suggesting the increase has already begun," says Paul Williams, professor of Atmospheric Science and coauthor of the University of Reading's latest study. As airlines now debate stricter seatbelt policies, an ace up their sleeve emerges for examination: the inflight safety video.

Bu hikaye Business Traveller Asia-Pacific dergisinin September/October 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Business Traveller Asia-Pacific dergisinin September/October 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Vietnam Airlines to add HanoiPhnom Penh service
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

Vietnam Airlines to add HanoiPhnom Penh service

VIETNAM AIRLINES has announced the launch of a nonstop service between Hanoi and Phnom Penh. Additionally, the airline has signed cooperation agreements with key partners in Cambodia to foster aviation and tourism development between the two countries.

time-read
1 min  |
September/October 2024
Malaysia Airlines and China Southern strengthen codeshare pact
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

Malaysia Airlines and China Southern strengthen codeshare pact

ONEWORLD MEMBER Malaysia Airlines and China Southern Airlines have announced an expansion of their codeshare flights to include the Guangzhou-Penang (CAN-PEN), Kuala LumpurBeijing Daxing (KUL-PKX) and Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai Pudong (KUL-PVG) routes from July 10, 2024.

time-read
1 min  |
September/October 2024
BANGKOK
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

BANGKOK

How to make the most of half a day in Thailand's bustling capital

time-read
3 dak  |
September/October 2024
MACHINE REVOLUTION
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

MACHINE REVOLUTION

Artificial intelligence is transforming the travel industry, with huge strides in data analysis and generative Al set to create seamless, personalised travel for passengers

time-read
7 dak  |
September/October 2024
HONG KONG DEBRIEFED
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

HONG KONG DEBRIEFED

The frenetic, constantly changing city on the South China coast still has more than a few tricks up its sleeve

time-read
5 dak  |
September/October 2024
Discovering Istanbul Airport
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

Discovering Istanbul Airport

Set to be the world's largest airport, IGA will be capable of hosting up to 200 million passengers annually by 2028

time-read
7 dak  |
September/October 2024
Your attention, please
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

Your attention, please

After a string of recent incidents involving extreme turbulence, we chart the history of the inflight safety video to see if the latest crop is up to the task...

time-read
7 dak  |
September/October 2024
SPOTLIGHT ON SURABAYA
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

SPOTLIGHT ON SURABAYA

The city in East Java is set to expand as it capitalises on its historic roots and status as an important trading centre

time-read
3 dak  |
September/October 2024
HOTEL HOP, BALI STYLE
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

HOTEL HOP, BALI STYLE

Indonesia's tourist hotspot has a wealth of attractions to suit everyone, but it’s all about picking the right place to stay

time-read
5 dak  |
September/October 2024
JAKARTA IN POLE POSITION
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific

JAKARTA IN POLE POSITION

Indonesia's commercial hub will thrive long after the nation's new capital is open for business

time-read
5 dak  |
September/October 2024