China Carriers Improve Country's Air Safety Record While Accommodating Increasing Consumer Demand A Decade of Sharp Improvement Puts China on Par with

HONG KONG, Aug 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New research shows China's air safety record has improved dramatically in the last decade, alongside rapid industry growth and increased competition.

Findings published by Ascend, the world's leading provider of information and consultancy to the global aerospace industry, show that air safety in China, as measured by the number of flights* per fatal accident, is now some 800 percent better than in the late 1990s.

In the 10 years to 1998, China completed an average of approximately 390,000 flights per fatal accident. Today, the country's airlines complete some 3.25m flights per fatal accident, which is close to the North American average of 3.8m flights per fatal accident. The passenger fatality rate has also improved significantly and, during the ten years to date, stands at an average of one passenger fatality per 5m passengers carried. This is, however, still some way behind the North American average for this period which is currently one passenger fatality per 18m carried.

Furthermore, in the 10 years to date, Chinese airlines have completed an average of more than 2.5m flights per total loss** - twice as good as North American airlines, which recorded fewer than 1.5m flights per total loss during the same period.

"This data should dispel any lingering concerns people may have about the safety of Chinese airlines," says Paul Hayes, Director, Ascend. "China's air safety record has improved significantly since the 1990s due in part to the importance the country has placed on achieving a high level of safety and the huge investment in new equipment and infrastructure, to the point where the country's figures are now very comparable to North America."

This significant improvement in safety has been achieved during the same time that Chinese airlines experienced a period of huge growth. In 2008 Chinese airlines are expected to make some 2.2m flights and carry 210 passengers, 3.5 times more than 10 years ago.

"While growing customer demand has dramatically increased the number of flights and passengers carried within and outside of China, the number of recorded fatalities has steadily decreased. This highlights China's commitment to improving aircraft safety standards while accommodating rapid market expansion and rising competition," Hayes explains.

Notes to editors

* Statistics were based on flights by aircraft with 15 or more passenger seats or cargo equivalent.
**A 'Total Loss' is where the aircraft is destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair.

SOURCE: Ascend

Fonte: Flight Safety Information 05/08/2008.