2018 - 37,800,000 flights, the accident rate is one fatal accident per 2,520,000 flights.

[USALiberal]

Despite several high-profile accidents, the year 2018 was one of the safest years ever for commercial aviation, Aviation Safety Network data show. Yet, last year was worse than the five-year average.

Over the year 2018, the Aviation Safety Network recorded a total of 15 fatal airliner accidents [1], resulting in 556 fatalities. This makes 2018 the third safest year ever by the number of fatal accidents and the ninth safest in terms of fatalities. The safest year in aviation history was 2017 with 10 accidents and 44 lives lost.

Looking at that five-year average of 14 accidents and 480 fatalities, last year was worse on both accounts.

Twelve accidents involved passenger flights, three were cargo flights. Three out of 15 accident airplanes were operated by airlines on the E.U. “blacklist”, up by two compared to 2017.

More at: https://news.aviation-safety.net/2019/01/01/aviation-safety-network-releases-2018-airliner-accident-statistics/

[customerserviceguy]

1. To express it in terms of how many flights per fatality

is to cook the numbers somewhat. How many flights have only one or two fatalities?

Flights with fatalities (air travel caused, not heart attacks while on a flight) compared to flights without fatalities would be a more useful number to get our heads around.

[Cicada]

2. This defies comprehension. The safety of airplanes does not compute in my brain.

It gives me hope that we can make cars much safer.

[caraher]

3. I'm most startled by the graphic on when accidents occurred

It used to be axiomatic that takeoff and landing were by far the most hazardous phases of most flights, but 9 of the 15 fatal accidents occurred en route.