IATA conference highlights safety gains and emerging GNSS threats

At the opening of the 2026 IATA World Security and Operations Conference, Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur said safety is the foundation of growth, while IATA Safety Director Mark Searle noted that progress in aviation safety requires people, technology and global standards working together.

IATA data show the fatal accident rate has improved from one fatality per 3.5 million flights to one per 5.6 million flights over the last decade, with 394 people dying in aviation accidents in 2025. The association highlighted three priorities: passing operational knowledge to new generations, combining experienced professionals with digital skills, and maintaining a safety culture, and warned that GNSS jamming and spoofing incidents require backup systems, procedures, training and human judgment.