Aviation

These are the World’s Most & Least Powerful Passports in 2024

In 2024, the global landscape of passport power continues to shape the way individuals traverse borders, with some passports unlocking a world of possibilities while others offer more limited access.

As we delve into the rankings, it becomes evident that the concept of passport strength goes beyond its physical pages, reflecting the geopolitical standing and diplomatic influence of nations. This year’s Henley Passport Index unveils the World’s Most and Least Powerful Passports, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of international travel and the varying degrees of global mobility afforded to passport holders worldwide.

In 2024, the world’s most powerful passports, led by France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, boast a remarkable score of 194, facilitating seamless global travel. Conversely, the least powerful passports, including Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan, struggle with limited scores ranging from 28 to 45, underscoring the challenges their holders face in navigating international borders.

In the latest standings, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea jointly secured the second position, while Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands collectively occupied the third spot. The United States, Canada, and Hungary shared the seventh rank, with the United Kingdom passport performing slightly better at #4, aligning itself with Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, and Portugal. Notably, in the Middle East, the UAE emerged as the highest-ranking passport at #11.

World’s 10 most powerful passports:

France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (Score: 194)
Finland, South Korea, Sweden (Score: 193)
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (Score: 192)
Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom (Score: 191)
Greece, Malta, Switzerland (Score: 190)
Australia, Czechia, New Zealand, Poland (Score: 189)
Canada, Hungary, United States (Score: 188)
Estonia, Lithuania (Score: 187)
Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (Score: 186)
Iceland (Score: 1)185

World’s 10 least powerful passports:

Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan (Score: 45)
Eritrea, Sri Lanka (Score: 43)
Bangladesh, North Korea (Score: 42)
Libya, Nepal, Palestinian Territory (Score: 40)
Somalia (Score: 36)
Yemen (Score: 35)
Pakistan ( (Score: 34)
Iraq (Score: 31)
Syria (Score: 29)
Afghanistan (Score: 28)

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”