Airlineratings.com reveal world’s safest airline for 2025

AirlineRatings.com, the world’s only airline safety and product rating website, has announced its Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines and Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines for 2025 from the 385 airlines it monitors.

The Top 25 Full-Service Airlines for 2025 in order are:

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas
3. Cathay Pacific; Qatar Airways; Emirates
4. Virgin Australia
5. Etihad Airways
6. ANA
7. EVA Air
8. Korean Air
9. Alaska Airlines
10. Turkish Airlines (THY)
11. TAP Portugal
12. Hawaiian Airlines
13. American Airlines
14. SAS
15. British Airways
16. Iberia
17. Finnair
18. Lufthansa/Swiss
19. JAL
20. Air Canada
21. Delta Airlines
22. Vietnam Airlines
23. United Airlines

According to AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen, “It was extremely close again between Air New Zealand and Qantas for first place with only 1.50 points separating the two airlines. Whilst both airlines uphold the highest safety standards and pilot training,  Air New Zealand continue to have a younger fleet than Qantas which separates the two.”

She continued, “The three-way tie for third place was because we simply could not separate these airlines. From fleet age to pilot skill, safety practices, fleet size, and number of incidents, their scores were identical.”

 Compared to last year’s list, some of the most significant changes include the inclusion of Iberia and Vietnam Airlines (which have made their list debut), as well as Korean Air’s rise into the top 10. Notable absences this year are Singapore Airlines and KLM. Ms. Petersen emphasised that while these airlines remain exceptionally safe and retain their seven-star safety rating, they just narrowly missed out on a spot this year due to incidents that occurred.

The Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines for 2025 in order are:

1. HK Express
2. Jetstar Group
3. Ryanair
4. easyJet
5. Frontier Airlines
6. AirAsia
7. Wizz Air
8. VietJet Air
9. Southwest Airlines
10. Volaris
11. flydubai
12. Norwegian
13. Vueling
14. Jet2
15. Sun Country Airlines
16. WestJet
17. JetBlue Airways
18. Air Arabia
19. IndiGo
20. Eurowings
21. Allegiant Air
22. Cebu Pacific
23. ZipAir
24. SKY Airline
25. Air Baltic

Compared to last year’s list, there have been significant changes, with HK Express claiming the top spot. The airline have not had any serious incidents and maintain a relatively flawless safety record. New additions to the list include Zipair, Jet2, and Air Baltic. A notable omission this year is Spirit Airlines, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 to restructure its finances and reduce debt.

How the top 25 Full Service and Low Cost Airlines are graded

Consultations with check pilots and aviation experts compliment the following measures to determine the world’s safest airlines:

• Serious incidents over the past two years
• Fleet age
• Fleet size
• Rate of incidents
• Fatalities
• Profitability
• IOSA certification
• ICAO country audit pass
• Pilot skill and training

It is essential to evaluate all these factors in the appropriate context. For instance, an airline operating only 100 aircraft experiencing three incidents raises greater concern than an airline with 800 aircraft experiencing six incidents. Additionally, financial instability within an airline can lead to significant operational challenges, automatically disqualifying it as a candidate. Similarly, any airline found at fault for a crash or failing its IOSA certification cannot be considered.

 Another critical factor is how incidents are managed. While incidents occur daily across the aviation industry, the expertise of pilots and crew often determines whether an event remains an incident or escalates into a tragedy. The crash of JAL Flight 516 at Haneda Airport last year exemplifies this, highlighting the importance of a highly skilled crew and adherence to procedures. The crew applied their rigorous training effectively, and passengers followed safety protocols, including leaving hand luggage behind. In less capable hands, this incident might have resulted in disaster. For us, such an incident can actually enhance an airline’s safety profile.

 It is also important to note that many incidents stem from aircraft or engine manufacturing issues rather than operational problems. For example, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced rapid cabin depressurisation when a door plug detached mid-flight. Investigations attributed the mishap to manufacturing defects, highlighting critical lapses in Boeing’s quality control processes.

 How Safe is Flying?

A recent airline safety study revealed that between 2018 and 2022, the global death risk per flight boarding was approximately one in 13.7 million. In comparison, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 1.19 million fatalities from road accidents in 2023, equating to more than two deaths per minute.

While these statistics underscore the relative safety of flying, the loss of over 200 lives in December 2024 alone significantly surpass the 72 fatalities recorded by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2023. Announcements such as the World’s Safest Airlines help passengers make informed choices.

To further assist passengers in making these informed decisions, AirlineRatings, in collaboration with Skyscanner, has introduced the world’s first flight booking platform that allows users to search for flights based on safety alongside price and duration. This innovative tool is designed to enhance passenger confidence and is accessible here.