The Safest Top 20 Airlines in the World
In today’s world, the rarity of commercial jet crashes marks a golden age of air travel safety, offering passengers peace of mind that flying is indeed one of the most secure activities one can undertake.
The echelon of the world’s foremost airlines is determined by a rigorous seven-point safety evaluation, which scrutinizes accident records, operational audits, and the currency of the aircraft fleet.
While the media may sometimes highlight troubling events in aviation, it is vital to remember the unparalleled safety record of contemporary commercial flying, often overshadowing the risks associated with everyday activities.
For travelers prioritizing safety, here’s an insight into the metrics that distinguish the safest airlines in the industry.
Evaluating the Safest Airlines in the World
AirlineRatings.com, an Australian website specializing in aviation safety and reviews, annually evaluates global airlines through a meticulous seven-point system. Surveying 385 carriers, the methodology accounts for factors like five-year accident records, serious incident records over two years, and the age of the airline’s fleet. The rankings also factor in the volume of passengers and frequency of flights, often benefiting those with extensive long-haul operations.
“Daily incidents are a reality for all airlines, many stemming from equipment or manufacturing issues rather than operational faults,” says Geoffrey Thomas, the editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com. He emphasizes that a crew’s response to incidents is what truly separates a safe airline from its counterparts.
For 2023, Qantas, Australia’s national carrier, proudly leads the safety rankings—a position it’s maintained seven times since 2013. Air New Zealand remains another constant at the top. The top 20 list includes five major U.S. airlines alongside others from Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, showcasing a global commitment to aviation safety.
The World’s Safest Airlines
1. Qantas
Qantas Airlines—the name is an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service—was founded on November 16, 1920, in Queensland, Australia. And in the jet age it has had an enviable, virtually accident-free record, earning it the “world’s safest airline” crown year after year, a stat that became widely known due to the movie Rain Man (in which Dustin Hoffman plays an autistic savant, Raymond Babbit, who cites Qantas as the safest airline to justify his refusal to fly any other). The airline’s fleet consists of 125 aircraft with an average age of around 12 years—the global average is currently about 16 years.
2. Air New Zealand
The Kiwi flag carrier has held on to its position at the top of the list, not just for its exemplary safety record but also because it operates a high proportion of ultra-long flights, including the nonstop New York–Auckland flights it launched earlier this year. The airline started in 1947 as an operator of seaplanes to Australia; the government transformed it into its national airline in the 1960s. It flies to 22 domestic destinations and 26 international destinations in more than 15 countries.
3. Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi–based Etihad Airways is one of the younger airlines on the list; founded in 2003, it currently flies to more than 80 destinations on five continents. The airline operates 90 aircraft, with an average age of seven years; it’s also known for its luxurious business- and first-class cabins, including separate “apartments.”
4. Qatar Airways
Doha-based Qatar Airways is, like other carriers of neighboring Gulf states, known for its long-haul flights, such as its 16.5-hour nonstop to Houston from Doha. It was founded in 1993 and operates 255 aircraft to 160 destinations, with what it claims is one of the world’s youngest fleets with an average age of around five years.
5. Singapore Airlines
Singapore is known for the high quality of its inflight service—the carrier routinely wins “world’s best airline” in passenger surveys, so it’s no surprise it would be ranked highly where safety practices are concerned, too. Founded in 1972, it flies 152 aircraft with an average age of around seven years to 75 destinations. Its network includes the world’s longest route, New York to Singapore, which currently holds the title with 19.5 hours of flying time.
6. TAP Air Portugal
The Portuguese flag carrier (TAP stands for “Transportes Aeroes Portugueses”) debuted 77 years ago, connecting its home country with far-flung nations, including former colonial outposts in Brazil, Mozambique, and elsewhere. It now flies to more than 80 destinations worldwide, via a mix of 84 narrow- and wide-bodied aircraft with an average age of 11.5 years.
7. Emirates
With its monster hub in Dubai and the world’s largest fleet of Airbus A380s, including 100 double-decker wide-bodies, Emirates is a dominant player in the long-distance league. It also operates 134 Boeing 777s, more than any other scheduled airline. The average age of its entire fleet is only about eight years. Founded in 1985, Emirates flies to 133 destinations on six continents.
8. Alaska Airlines
From its humble beginnings 91 years ago as an Anchorage-based puddle jumper named McGee Airways, Alaska Airlines has morphed into the fifth largest carrier in the USA following its 2016 acquisition of Virgin America. The airline has continued to modernize and update its fleet, which includes 221 Boeing 737s with an average age of 9.8 years and a smaller number of Embraer 75s that are less than five years old on average. It is the highest ranked U.S. airline on the global airline safety ratings list.
9. EVA Airlines
Taiwan’s international airline has earned a loyal following for its reliability, customer service, and, of course, its livery featuring Hello Kitty and other eye-catching cartoon characters. Founded in 1989, it has 86 planes with an average age of 8.5 years.
10. Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia
These two carriers share the Virgin brand but otherwise have little in common: Virgin Atlantic is known for its scarlet-hued planes and hip vibe, and it operates a long-distance network out of the U.K. with a wide-body fleet of Airbus and Boeing models with an average aircraft age of just under seven years. Following a pandemic-era reorganization, Virgin Australia now operates a fleet of narrow-body jets, mostly 737-800s, that average around 11.5 years on a largely domestic route system.
The Remaining Safest Airlines in the World
Beyond the top 10 safest airlines in the world listed above, here are the airlines that round out the top 20 list.
11. Cathay Pacific Airways
12. Hawaiian Airlines
13. SAS
14. United Airlines
15. Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Austrian, Brussels, Swiss)
16. Finnair
17. British Airways
18. KLM
19. American Airlines
20. Delta Air Lines
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, afar.com, AirlineRatings.com