The safest and most dangerous countries to drive in for European travellers

 

• Romania is the most dangerous European country to drive in, based on 2022 statistics.
• Serbia and Bulgaria are second and third, respectively.
• Norway ranks as the safest country to drive in.

 

New research has revealed the most dangerous European countries to drive in, with Romania coming out on top.

 

The study, which was carried out by Vignetteswitzerland.com analysed the latest data from the European Transport Safety Council to see which countries had the highest road deaths per million inhabitants.

 

It found that Romania is statistically the most dangerous country to drive in in Europe. 2022 shows that the country had 85.81 deaths per million inhabitants, the highest of any country in the study. However, this is a 10.26% drop from 2012, which saw 95.62 deaths per million inhabitants.

 

Serbia comes second on the list, with the south-eastern European country coming in with 82.65 road deaths per million inhabitants. Compared to 2012 data, this is a drop of 13.01% from when the country had 95.01 road deaths per million inhabitants.

 

Coming in third place is the Balkan nation Bulgaria, which comes in with 77.64 road deaths per million inhabitants. It has the most minor change in road deaths out of the top ten, only seeing a drop of 6.02% since 2012, with 82.62 road deaths per million inhabitants.

 

Croatia takes fourth place on the list, with 71.20 road deaths per million inhabitants in the 2022 data. This is a 22.53% drop from 2012 when the country had 91.91 road deaths per million inhabitants.

 

Rounding out the top five is Portugal, which comes in with 62.30 road deaths per million inhabitants. This is an 8.53% drop from the 2012 data, which had 68.11 road deaths per million inhabitants.

The most dangerous European countries to drive in

 

Rank	Country	Road deaths per mln inhabitants (2012)	Road deaths per mln inhabitants (2022)	Percentage change 2012-2022
1	Romania	95.62	85.81	-10.26%
2	Serbia	95.01	82.65	-13.01%
3	Bulgaria	82.62	77.64	-6.02%
4	Croatia	91.91	71.20	-22.53%
5	Portugal	68.11	62.30	-8.53%
6	Greece	87.51	60.71	-30.63%
7	Latvia	86.69	60.24	-30.51%
8	Luxembourg	64.78	55.78	-13.89%
9	Hungary	60.76	55.22	-9.12%
10	Italy	61.71	53.70	-12.97%

The study also found that Norway is statistically the safest country to drive in in Europe. 2022 shows that the country only had 21.38 deaths per million inhabitants, the lowest of any European country. Compared to 2012 data, this is a 26.48% drop from across the decade, with 2012 having 29.08 deaths per million inhabitants.

 

Contracts awarded for novel software that will control future UK MOD satellites

The contracts will develop innovative software to provide a robust, secure and automated satellite control system for future UK MOD satellites.

The awards, as part of Project Beroe, will underpin government control of future satellite constellations, further enhancing the UK’s multi-domain integration efforts.

Worth a total of £4 million, the contracts were placed with Rhea in Bath and Lockheed Martin’s Space Systems UK in Oxfordshire. They will aid the agile development of software for satellite system management, designed to capture and process onboard system data to control and monitor the performance of the satellite.

Commodore David Moody, Head of Capability at Space Command, said:

"This is a pivotal moment for UK Defence and the UK Space Sector as we develop software and partnerships that will determine the future of how we manage our activities in space.

This project will enable us to define and understand how we will control and optimise the use of our satellites in a safe and sustainable way, and is an important part of UK MOD’s future satellite aspirations.

These contracts also support the wider goals of enabling growth in the Space Sector to develop resilient space capabilities and services."

The contracts were placed by the Space Delivery Team at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the UK MOD, and support the UK’s National Space Strategy, reinforcing innovation within the Space Sector.

DE&S project manager Melanie MacDonald, said:

"We are developing critical software that will provide the UK government with direct control of a range of future satellites. As well as supporting wider government access to diverse satellite data, this capability will support UK Armed Forces operations and provide them with the edge they need to protect the nation."

Delta's Ed Bastian on the importance of financial well-being

As CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian leads 100,000 global professionals who are building the world’s premier international airline, powered by a people-driven, customer-focused culture and spirit of innovation.  

Ed Bastian has authored an open letter to business, government and community leaders on the importance of financial well-being and solving the problem of financial insecurity.

This week, Delta Air Lines is doing something extraordinary – paying $1.4 billion in profits directly to our employees, a profit-sharing arrangement for frontline workers unmatched in its scope and impact. Every eligible Delta employee will receive a check that, this year, totals more than 10% of their annual salary. It’s something we do every year on Valentine’s Day to demonstrate our gratitude and love for our people, who serve our customers and ensure their safety and comfort every day.

This year’s payment is no anomaly. Over the past 10 years, Delta has shared more than $1 billion in annual profits with our employees seven times. All told, since we began our profit-sharing program in 2007, the company has paid our employees $11 billion. We are unaware of any major company in our country with a comparable level of success sharing.

Rewarding our people is fundamental to Delta’s values-centered business model. But writing well-earned checks isn’t always enough. Recent data indicates more than 50% of Americans don’t have access to $1,000 in savings in case of a financial emergency. That creates an enormous amount of stress and uncertainty for families across our nation. While we can’t solve the problem for everyone, we wanted to help Delta employees achieve a level of financial security by boosting their savings and financial wellness.

That’s why last year, we launched the Emergency Savings Program, in partnership with Operation HOPE and Fidelity Investments. Participating employees can earn $1,000 from Delta to fund a rainy day account, along with individualized coaching and a host of tools from Operation HOPE and Fidelity to enhance their financial literacy and well-being.

The results have been remarkable. Since the start of the program, more than 35,000 Delta employees have begun contributing towards an emergency savings account. Over 21,000 have completed the program, earning a $1,000 safety net contribution from Delta – and 94% of that group have kept money in their accounts, allowing it to accumulate interest until it’s truly needed for an emergency. Most participating employees are actively growing that safety net with their own earnings, on average saving $74 from every paycheck via payroll deduction.

United Airlines wins a Gold Medal at the Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2023 for Best Business Class Rosé

United Airlines has won a Gold Medal for ‘Best Business Class Rosé’ at the Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2023, which took place at the iconic ME London, located on the Strand.

Whispering Angel Rosé, 2022, Château d’Esclans, served on board United flights in United PolarisSM business class across the airline’s international network, was awarded first place in this category by an independent panel of judges, consisting of the world’s leading wine masters and experts led by Charles Metcalfe, founder of the International Wine Challenge, who blind tasted all entries over a two-day period to determine the winner. The rosé was described and recognised for its “fresh, crisp, some redcurrant, complex minerality and great finish”.

Whispering Angel Rosé was first introduced on board United flights in March 2023 as part of the airline’s wider programme to refresh the Polaris business class wine selections and further elevate and enhance the onboard food and beverage experience.

“We are delighted to be awarded a Gold Medal at this year’s Cellars in the Sky Awards, which reflects our commitment to creating memorable experiences for customers flying United,” said Jenefer Jackson, United Director, Menu Planning. “United Polaris brings a new level of quality to premium cabin travel and we are proud to be the only U.S. airline that serves Whispering Angel Rosé.”

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British Airways invests in new predictive automated maintenance reporting system

A cutting-edge engineering system that uses real-time data to predict aircraft maintenance issues is helping British Airways reduce delays and save the use of more than 900,000 pieces of paper a year.

The E-Logs platform will provide live performance information about all of the airline’s 270 jets, allowing the airline to immediately spot potential problems and proactively fix them and reduce downtime.

It is replacing a costly and time-consuming paper-based system with an entirely automated process that makes it much easier for pilots and cabin crew to log issues.

Andy Best, Chief Technical Officer at British Airways, said:  “We’re using the latest technology to help ensure we continue delivering a consistently high standard of service for our customers – always with a focus on safety.

Our investment in innovative tools like this, means we can support our teams to identify and put solutions in place ahead of time. By replacing time-consuming manual processes with digital technology we are constantly improving the reliability of our aircraft fleet and as a result our customers’ experience.” 

Aircraft technical logs are a regulatory requirement that have historically been paper-based.

Flight and cabin crew would log any faults in writing and these are then transcribed and transferred to maintenance teams, which carry out any required work and again update the aircraft maintenance log in writing.

The E-Logs system, which will see a number of specialist iPads placed on every aircraft, will replace the paper-based system entirely and allows the immediate transfer of data from the aircraft to engineers within seconds - before the aircraft arrives at its destination.

This means engineers can pre-order any required parts and resolve issues more quickly on arrival, reducing the amount of time planes are out of action.

The technology also allows BA to predict faults and pre-emptively correct them before they become an issue that might take an aircraft offline.

The system forms part of BA’s £7bn transformation investment over the next two years. This is the biggest ever investment in the business to revolutionise how teams work, rolling-out the very latest technology to boost the customer experience. 

This includes cutting-edge machine learning, automation and AI across the operation, driving improvements from bookings to baggage handling and helping cut cancellations and delays. 

The tools being used are revolutionising how the airline works, replacing time-consuming manual processes with tech-based solutions to ensure that the right information is in the right place at the right time.  

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­­Finnair Group Financial Statements Release 1 January – 31 December 2023

Finnair has posted its latest results that show the carrier achieved a solid end to a strong year due to a robust market and visible results from revenue and a cost-cutting programme. 

October – December 2023                            

Revenue increased by 5.8% to 727.2 million euros (687.3*).

Comparable operating result was 22.5 million euros (17.9) and operating result was 27.3 million euros (38.0).

Earnings per share were 0.004 euros (0.005**).

Result for the period included positive, one-off deferred tax items of 46 million euros based on previous years’ tax losses.

Cash funds were 922.0 million euros (1 524.4) and they decreased from Q3 mainly due to the 220-million-euro pension premium loan repayment and the over 200-million-euro acquisition of previously leased aircraft during the period. The equity ratio was 15.6 per cent (9.9).

Net cash flow from operating activities was -5.7 million euros (29.9), and net cash flow from investing activities was -177.7 million euros (-54.3).*** Gross capital expenditure totalled 268.6 million euros (61.8).

Number of passengers increased by 6.5 per cent to 2.6 million (2.5).

Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 10.5 per cent to 9,047.5 million kilometres (8,185.5).

Passenger load factor (PLF) was 73.1% (72.3).

January – December 2023                            

Revenue increased by 26.8% to 2,988.5 million euros (2,356.6).

Comparable operating result was 184.0 million euros (-163.9) and operating result was 191.4 million euros (-200.6).

Earnings per share were 0.022 euros (-0.060**).

Result for the period included positive, one-off deferred tax items of 145 million euros based on previous years’ tax losses.

Net cash flow from operating activities was 472.3 million euros (259.0), and net cash flow from investing activities was -464.0 million euros (-75.5).*** Gross capital expenditure totalled 484.2 million euros (199.6).

Number of passengers increased by 20.8 per cent to 11.0 million (9.1).

Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 15.5 per cent to 36,154.5 million kilometres (31,298.4). This is c. 77 per cent compared to 2019 ASKs. When wet leases are included, ASKs were c. 81 per cent compared to 2019.

Passenger load factor (PLF) was 76.4% (67.6).

* Unless otherwise stated, comparisons and figures in parentheses refer to the comparison period, i.e., the same period last year.

** A rights issue was implemented in November 2023 and, thus, the comparison period figure has been restated accordingly.

*** In Q4, net cash flow from investing activities included 68.0 million euros of redemptions (38.9 million euros on investments) in money market funds or other financial assets (maturity over three months). In 2023, investments totalled 60.7 million euros (12.8 million euros). They are part of the Group’s liquidity management.

Innovations at Kaunas Airport: passengers' hand luggage is already being checked by the latest generation of aviation security scanners

Aviation security screening at Kaunas airport has become faster and more convenient for passengers, as three modern three-dimensional computer tomography-based aviation security scanners have been enabled at full capacity. During the check-in procedure, passengers no longer need to remove any electronic devices and liquids from hand luggage - new devices analyze the contents of the luggage in a three-dimensional space.

Electronics and liquids will remain in your luggage

The first passengers were screened with the new equipment in Kaunas last November when the testing phase took place, and the system was put into full use in February of this year, after all tuning work was completed.

"New technology solutions at Lithuanian airports first of all ensure a higher level of aviation security, but at the same time improve passenger experience. Passengers no longer need to take liquids and electronic devices out of their bags, suitcases or backpacks - everything can stay inside the luggage. As a result, the screening process becomes more efficient, faster and of higher quality. In addition, certified devices are capable of automatically identifying even particles of explosive materials when checking all baggage," says Vidas Ksanas, Head of the Safety and Security Department of Lithuanian Airports.

He adds that next year, seven of the same scanners will start operating in the new departure terminal at Vilnius Airport, which will be the most modern in the Baltic States.

Lithuanian Airports purchased the new generation aviation security scanners during an international public procurement. It will be released in 2022. Polish company Dimark S.A. won the procurement. The value of the entire project is 5.8 million. euros (without VAT). Devices of the well-known German manufacturer Smiths Detection are being installed in Lithuanian airports.

The requirement for the volume of liquids in luggage is not changing

According to V. Ksanas, the innovations also facilitate the work of security screening inspectors, as they can rotate the 3D image generated by the scanners on their screen at various angles and easily identify items placed in hand luggage. Even liquids do not need to be removed, it is just important that they are properly packed, in accordance with the requirements up to now: liquids carried in hand luggage must be in containers with a capacity of no more than 100 ml, and the total volume of liquids per passenger cannot exceed 1 liter (1000 ml).

The Head of the Safety and Security Department of Lithuanian Airports points out that for the time being, airports in Europe and the world apply different practices regarding the transportation of liquids in hand luggage. However, the expert hopes that the broad international discussion of airports will turn into common decisions and uniform rules for the entire aviation sector, which will allow the current order to be changed and the advantages of modern security technologies to be fully exploited.

BOC Aviation signs lease deal with Indigo for four Airbus A320NEO jets

BOC Aviation Limited confirmed this week that it has entered into a finance lease transaction involving four Airbus A320NEO aircraft with IndiGo. The aircraft are all powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. All four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2024. 

“We are pleased to be closing another four finance leases with IndiGo. We continue to work closely with our long-time customer to support its expansion strategy as it builds a fleet of latest technology fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation. “This is our first transaction in the year of the dragon, and it sets the tone for the year as we continue growing our fleet by investing in latest generation aircraft and partnering with high quality customers.”  

“We are pleased to announce that we have extended our partnership with BOC Aviation through a lease agreement for four Airbus A320NEO aircraft. These aircraft will be instrumental in supporting our expansion plans and strengthening our position in both domestic and international markets. At IndiGo, we are dedicated to providing our customers with unparalleled travel experiences, and this partnership will allow us to continue delivering affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel across our extensive 6E network,” said Riyaz Peermohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer of IndiGo.

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United Airlines adds new corporate partners to sustainable flight fund which now exceeds $200 million.

Aircastle, Air New Zealand, Embraer, Google, HIS, Natixis CIB, Safran, and Technip Energies are now part of first-of-its-kind effort to reduce emissions and drive production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by providing startups with both financial and strategic capital

United customers play a role too, with more than 115,000 people contributing nearly $500,000 since February 2023

The U.S. mega-carrier United has announced that Aircastle (a Marubeni & Mizuho Leasing Company), Air New Zealand, Embraer, Google, HIS, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, Safran Corporate Ventures, and Technip Energies are now among the 22 corporate partners that make up the airline's The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight FundSM, a first-of-its-kind effort to reduce emissions and drive production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through investments in startups.

These corporate partners make up all parts of the aviation supply chain – airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers, engineering and technology experts, financiers, travel management and more – and have now committed more than $200 million while collaborating to provide strategic expertise to help the Fund's portfolio companies reach commercialization.

Since its inception in February 2023, the Fund remains aviation's first and only venture fund backed by a broad limited partner base and created to identify and support startups advancing feedstock and technology development focused on increasing the supply of SAF.

The airline has included a way for everyday consumers to participate as well. Anyone using United.com or the United app has an option to contribute to supplement United's investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM before check-out. Users have the choice to contribute $1, $3.50 or $7.00.1 Continuing in the effort toward climate transparency for our customers, United also now shows an estimated carbon emission for flights booked through United.com or the United app. In less than 12 months, more than 115,000 people have contributed nearly $500,000 since February 2023.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. To date, United has invested in the future production of over five billion gallons of SAF - the most of any airline in the world.2

"SAF is the best tool we have to decarbonize aeroplanes, but we don't have enough of it. To create the fuel supply we need for our fleet, United recognized that we would have to help build a brand-new industry from scratch – like wind and solar in previous decades," said Andrew Chang, Managing Director of United Airlines Ventures. "As part of our effort to build a new sustainable aviation ecosystem, we recruited a group of partners with the industry expertise to support our startups with both financial and strategic capital, to help them navigate the entire process from conception to commercialization."

UAV Sustainable Flight Fund

airBaltic has started the year strongly, carrying 287,900 passengers in January 2024

The Latvian national airline airBaltic has started the year strongly, carrying 287,900 passengers in January 2024 – a 16% increase compared to the same period last year. During the winter season, when the demand traditionally declines, consistently stable indicators of transported passengers can still be observed within a single month. In January, airBaltic performed 3,170 flights, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “As we step into 2024, airBaltic has seen an increase in passenger numbers, affirming our position as the preferred airline for the Baltic States. Our focus this year is on expanding our fleet and destination offerings, a step towards not only recovering to pre-pandemic levels but also surpassing them. With over 130 routes in operation, we're connecting our home bases to the globe more extensively than ever, accommodating a diverse spectrum of travel needs and drawing significant interest for travellers.”

January, 2024*	January, 2023**	Change
Number of passengers	287 900	247 300	16%
Number of flights	3 170	3 030	4%

*Preliminary rounded data from airBaltic monthly reports.

**Actual rounded data from airBaltic monthly reports.

In 2023, airBaltic has carried around 4.5 million passengers or by 36% more than in 2022. During the last 12 months, the airline performed over 44 000 flights – 18% more than the year before.

airBaltic operates more than 100 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and Gran Canaria (seasonally) offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline's route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region.

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Valentine's gift for airBaltic...................................... Latvian national airline gets 47th Airbus A220-300 Aircraft

Happy Valentine's Day.......

The Latvian national airline airBaltic welcomed its 47th Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABU, in Riga, just ahead of Valentine's Day!

This is the first Airbus A220-300, formally known as Bombardier CSeries CS300, delivery for airBaltic in 2024. It is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. Furthermore, in November 2023, the company announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 more Airbus A220-300 aircraft with purchase rights for an additional 20 aircraft of the same type.

Thus far, airBaltic has carried more than 14 478,000 passengers on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Airbus A220-300s of the airline have completed over 160,000 flights and flown 352,000 block hours.

Since May 2020, airBaltic has operated all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.

In addition, the aircraft is also considerably quieter – with a twice-times smaller noise footprint when compared to the previous generation aircraft. Moreover, at the moment it is the most efficient commercial aircraft in the world with a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact, helping to reduce CO2 and NOX emissions by 25% and 50% respectively in comparison with the previous generation aircraft and industry standards.

airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. Its primary shareholder is the Latvian state, which holds 97.97% of the stock, while the rest of the shareholders hold 2.03%. airBaltic offers connections to more than 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus region. Over the last 28 years, airBaltic has developed as a strong and internationally respected airline, which employs more than 2 500 employees. The airBaltic fleet consists of 47 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, making it one of the youngest fleets in Europe.

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Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!