Modern aviation is no longer defined only by technology and safety standards. It is increasingly shaped by geopolitics, digital threats and the transparency of information. The most important part of IATA’s latest report focuses precisely on these emerging risks, DKNews.kz reports.
War is now affecting the skies
In recent years, the number of armed conflicts around the world has increased. This is no longer just a ground-level issue - it is directly impacting airspace as well.
In some regions, military activity is taking place very close to, or even along, established flight routes. As a result, airlines are forced to reroute flights, which affects flight times, costs and overall operational stability.
Recent disruptions linked to tensions between the US/Israel and Iran once again highlighted how vulnerable aviation can be to such risks.
In these conditions, close coordination between military and civil aviation becomes critical.
If risks cannot be reduced to an acceptable level, governments must act quickly and transparently to restrict or close airspace. These decisions must be based solely on safety considerations.
Clear and timely notices to pilots (NOTAMs) are also essential, as airlines rely on this information to conduct their own risk assessments.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh emphasized:
“Civil aviation must never be put at risk due to military activity - whether intentional or accidental. When tensions rise, governments must share risk information in a timely manner, ensure effective coordination between civil and military authorities, impose airspace restrictions when necessary, and provide airlines with sufficient information to carry out their own risk assessments. Whether closing or reopening airspace, safety depends on transparency and coordination.”
The invisible threat: GPS interference
Another growing risk is interference with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).
Such incidents have surged in recent years. According to IATA data, cases of signal jamming in 2025 increased by 67% compared to 2023, while GPS spoofing incidents rose by 193%.
What does this mean? Aircraft navigation systems can receive false or misleading information.
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For now, backup systems help maintain safety. But the issue is becoming increasingly complex.
Walsh also warned:
“Interference with GNSS is a serious concern. Airlines depend on GNSS for safe and efficient operations. While system redundancies allow flights to remain safe even in cases of intentional interference, urgent action is needed from governments and air navigation service providers. Awareness must be increased, and pilots must be equipped with better tools to mitigate these threats. Ultimately, this practice must stop. Anything less is unacceptable and irresponsible.”
Why accident reports are delayed
Another major issue highlighted in the report is the delayed publication of accident investigation reports.
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According to IATA’s analysis, only 63% of investigations conducted between 2019 and 2023 were completed in line with the requirements of the Chicago Convention.
This is a serious concern for the industry. Every report contains critical insights that can help prevent future accidents.
There are also significant regional differences:
- CIS countries - 81%
- North America - 78%
- Europe - 75%
- Asia-Pacific - 68%
- Africa - just 19%
This means that in some regions, crucial safety information may not be available at all.
Walsh addressed this issue directly:
“Accident investigations are essential to improving safety. However, many reports are delayed, incomplete or difficult to access. Some are not published at all, and others lack clear recommendations. Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention clearly defines the obligations of states. While compliance is improving, anything less than 100% represents a missed opportunity to enhance safety. Where lack of resources and expertise is the main challenge, coordinated international support is needed to strengthen these capabilities.”
Transparency as a new safety standard
To address this issue, IATA has taken a new step.
The organization has launched a global platform that consolidates safety recommendations from final accident investigation reports into a single database. This improves access to critical safety data, supports data-driven analysis and helps prevent similar incidents in the future.
The bottom line
Today, aviation depends not only on technology, but also on information, coordination and trust.
War, digital interference and lack of transparency are the key risks of a new era.
And safety is no longer confined to the aircraft itself - it is shaped by a much broader environment.
