Last year was the safest year for air travel since 1945. The world's airlines reported 23 accidents -- including passenger and cargo flights -- resulting in 475 fatalities last year, compared with the 10-year average of 34 accidents and 773 fatalities a year, according to Aviation Safety Network, a research group in the Netherlands. Fewer accidents are the result of several efforts by international aviation groups to require airlines around the world to comply with safety standards, said Harro Ranter, president of the group. Twenty-two percent of fatal airline accidents last year occurred in Africa, though the continent generates about 3 percent of the world's airline departures, according to Aviation Safety Network.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
January can be a good time to find deals Travel deals available in January are often some of the best offered all year. And this sale season, lower-than-usual snowfall in many parts of the country has added a few peak-winter destinations to the mix. "The first two weeks of the year tend to be a great time for bargains," says Anne Banas, executive editor for advice site SmarterTravel.com. Many of the offers are for travel by February, but some extend well into the fall. Travelers should also read the details for restrictions like minimum-stay requirements, or higher holiday-weekend rates. Packages that combine air and hotel or other components packages can also be a great deal, but it's still worth crunching the numbers, she says.
MARKET WATCH
Smart entertainment for road trippers Audiobooks are the saving grace for people who drive long distances. The website www.simplyaudiobooks.com is based on the Netflix model: For a monthly fee of $26.98, you can rent an unlimited number of audiobooks from 22,000 choices. Get one in the mail, ship it back when you're done, and the next book on your list is automatically sent to you.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
