What is Article 89?
Article 89 of the EASA Basic Regulation, the legal framework that established EASA and defines its mandate, requires the Agency to examine the correlation between socioeconomic factors and aviation safety. The provision was included in the Regulation following advocacy from ECA, which viewed it as an important step towards ensuring these issues would be assessed as part of EASA's safety work.
EASA is required to publish this report every three years. The first report, released in 2021, concluded that no correlation could be established, as the available evidence was largely perceived rather than empirical and robust data was lacking. It recommended improving the collection and mapping of socioeconomic data to better assess potential safety impacts.
Where do we go from here?
ECA will continue to engage with EASA on the report's findings and the follow-up work arising from them. While the three-year reporting cycle provides an important framework, continued progress will depend on how the report's recommendations are implemented, how data collection evolves, and how identified issues, including reporting culture, operational pressures and fatigue, are addressed.
As additional evidence becomes available over time, it will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic factors and aviation safety.
Read the Full Report and Summary
Explore EASA's 2026 Article 89 Report for the complete findings, or start with ECA's summary leaflet for a concise overview of the key messages.
