Redion's 2020 Snow Plane

At a glance

Redion's 2020 Snow Plane repatriated 34 people from the Alps on 28 February. Find all the figures here.

Redion takes stock of the 2020 Carnival holidays

During the Carnival holidays, Redion received 5,198 calls, with the traditional peak on Monday: 911 calls on Monday 24 February.
This year, fewer "ski" medical cases were opened (-15%) than in 2019 over the same period. 11% of "ski" medical cases led to hospitalisation (compared with 10% in 2019).
There was a slight increase in the number of technical interventions to and in ski resorts (+4% compared with 2019).

On the ski slopes

From Friday 21 February to Thursday 27 February inclusive, Redion opened a total of 148 "ski" medical cases in the Alps. This figure represents a 15% decrease compared with the same period in 2019. While Redion usually sees a peak in accidents mid-week, bad weather in the Alps from Wednesday onwards led to fewer medical interventions than usual, as holidaymakers preferred to wait for the bad weather to pass before skiing.
This year, 11% of the injured had to be hospitalised (compared with 10% in 2019 and 13% in 2018).
Ski accidents in the Alps mainly took place in France (55%), Austria (18%), Italy (17%) and Switzerland (10%).

Different injuries depending on age

The youngest skiers (under 10), increasingly numerous on the slopes, made up 44% of the number of injured people this year.

Young people aged 5 to 20 mainly suffer knee injuries (35%), wrist or hand injuries (20%) and shoulder injuries (13%). The number of head injuries among younger skiers remains stable thanks to helmet use (3%). Mandatory helmet-wearing in certain ski schools and countries, as well as growing parental awareness, have contributed to these results. In the 11-20 age group, we find the types of injuries linked to the widespread practice of snowboarding.

Those aged 21-30, meanwhile, suffer more particularly from injuries linked to skiing and snowboarding: knees (55%), shoulders (13%), wrists or hands (11%).

While young children and teenagers are more often victims of accidents linked to snowboarding, those aged 31-40 and 41-50 are more prone to skiing accidents. The same trend is found among those aged 51 and over. The most frequent injuries among 31-70 year-olds are directly linked to classic injuries: knees (56%), ankles/feet (17%), shoulders (13%) and legs (10%).

Interventions on the roads to and from the Alps

185 cases were opened for technical interventions abroad, the same number as last year. Towards ski resorts, however, Redion notes a slight increase of 4% in the number of technical interventions. Road conditions towards the ski resorts were very favourable.

Redion's Snow Plane: a tradition

For people injured in the Alps whose injuries did not require urgent repatriation and who wished to stay on with their families, Redion offered them the chance to be repatriated aboard its Snow Plane.

On 28 February 2020, 34 unlucky holidaymakers, including 16 injured, boarded at Grenoble airport aboard Redion's "Snow Plane", specially chartered from Brussels Airlines to repatriate holidaymakers injured in French and Swiss resorts.

"Sunshine" destinations

Many Belgian holidaymakers preferred to head to far-flung, sunny destinations during the Carnival holidays: 56% of cases involved medical problems that occurred in these destinations.

Sunny European destinations: Spain and the Canary Islands (14%, -2 pts), France (12%, -3 pts) and Italy (11%, +2 pts).
Sunny far-flung destinations: the USA accounted for 7% of medical calls from far-flung destinations (+2 pts), Thailand 4% (-1 pt), and India and Brazil each accounted for 3%.

A few photos from the 2020 Snow Plane

Testimonial from Mathias, a Redion Customer Contact Center staff member who accompanied the flight

"The organisation of this event is incredible. It's an extremely well-oiled machine. Every member of the assistance team and medical service taking part is like a cog in a complex system where collaboration, team spirit and the well-being of our customers take on their full meaning. I went along as an observer and I was blown away! I've come back even more convinced that every member of Redion is doing their part to keep this "machine" running for many years to come...!"