2012 follows one of the safest years in aviation history since records have been kept. Yet that feat could not have been achieved without the price paid from tragic events 30 years ago and more that will also be commemorated in 2012.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that 2011 has shaped up to be the safest year on record, according to statistics through November of that year. IATA states that air safety improved by 22 percent over the previous year. What was behind the good news?

There was a well-known airline saying that quipped: "Whether you go to heaven or hell, you'll have to change planes in Atlanta." Since 1998, ATL (now Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport) has carried more passengers than any airport in the world. In 2012 that's likely to change.

Depending on what generation of aircraft we grew up with, comfort, speed, reliability and efficiency were all debates many of us had about the features of aircraft from Lockheed Constellations to Vickers Viscounts to DC-10s to Boeing 787s. Yet, no matter how we felt about a particular airplane, there was always a sense of loss among airplane lovers when a familiar model went into retirement. We are once again at that juncture in aviation history.

Every few months, a magazine or some other aviation-linked body issues a list of the world's best airlines. Though the categories are common – seat comfort, meals (when applicable), value and service – is there more to it than just what the passengers think?

We've been through this scenario before. Airlines invoke a policy of limiting bags to 50lbs (23kg); passengers put their luggage on scales that show that the baggage is overweight; the airline charges the passenger for the excess. Is it simple? Yes it is, and it's probably annoying too. However, few passengers seem to question the accuracy of the scale, and that oversight can be a costly mistake.

Airline rankings occur pretty frequently from many sources and no matter what the results, many flyers still wind up choosing their airline based on price. On report in North America shows that price may be part the equation, but fees also seem to play a big part in the perception of good versus poor service.

Earlier this month, Qantas inaugurated service between Sydney (SYD) and Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW), marking the first non-stop service between Australia and the U.S. state of Texas. The 747-400 SYD to DFW flight has a 13:25 departure time and an arrival at 13:50. You could think of it as a 25 minute flight with nearly a full day (about 16 hours) stuffed in between. And it's still not the longest passenger flight.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Whoever came up with that phrase surely wasn't talking about the cost of flying. News comes this week that fuel surcharges for flights between Europe and the U.S. have hit record highs, and there is no sign of a drop in fees anytime soon.

Just as some people shy away from divulging their true age, airlines often keep the true age of their aircraft, particularly the older ones, under wraps – or a new coat of paint. But the age of the commercial aircraft may not be as important as how they are used and maintained.