In 2025, Air New Zealand (NZ) has been named the safest airline in the world. It narrowly beats out Qantas (QF) for the top spot, according to AirlineRatings.com.
This annual ranking looks at airlines known for strong safety records, thorough pilot training, and modern aircraft. Knowing these details helps travelers choose wisely when booking flights.
The safety list reflects a lively airline landscape. We see new names rising up and some surprising misses, all pointing to how airline safety is always changing.
Here’s a look at the top 20 safest full-service airlines for 2025:
Rank | Airline Name | IATA Code |
---|---|---|
1 | Air New Zealand | NZ |
2 | Qantas | QF |
3 | Cathay Pacific | CX |
3 | Qatar Airways | QR |
3 | Emirates | EK |
6 | Virgin Australia | VA |
7 | Etihad Airways | EY |
8 | ANA | NH |
9 | EVA Air | BR |
10 | Korean Air | KE |
11 | Alaska Airlines | AS |
12 | Turkish Airlines | TK |
13 | TAP Portugal | TP |
14 | Hawaiian Airlines | HA |
15 | American Airlines | AA |
16 | SAS | SK |
17 | British Airways | BA |
18 | Iberia | IB |
19 | Finnair | AY |
20 | Lufthansa/Swiss | LH/LX |
20 | JAL | JL |
20 | Air Canada | AC |
Air New Zealand led by a slim margin of just 1.50 points. While both Air New Zealand and Qantas shine in safety and training, Air New Zealand’s newer aircraft gave it the edge.
Interestingly, there was a three-way tie for third place among Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates. These airlines showed strong performance in fleet age, incidents, and safety measures.
This year, Iberia and Vietnam Airlines made their debut on the list. Korean Air also moved into the top 10, while Singapore Airlines and KLM fell short despite having solid safety reputations.
Now, let’s check out the top 20 safest low-cost airlines:
Rank | Airline Name | IATA Code |
---|---|---|
1 | Hong Kong Express | UO |
2 | Jetstar Group | JQ |
3 | Ryanair | FR |
4 | easyJet | U2 |
5 | Frontier Airlines | F9 |
6 | AirAsia | AK |
7 | Wizz Air | W6 |
8 | VietJet Air | VJ |
9 | Southwest Airlines | WN |
10 | Volaris | Y4 |
11 | flydubai | FZ |
12 | Norwegian | DY |
13 | Vueling | VY |
14 | Jet2 | LS |
15 | Sun Country Airlines | SY |
16 | WestJet | WS |
17 | JetBlue Airways | B6 |
18 | Air Arabia | G9 |
19 | IndiGo | 6E |
20 | Eurowings | EW |
This year, Hong Kong Express climbed to the number one spot, thanks to its solid safety record. New entrants like Zipair, Jet2, and Air Baltic added fresh competition. However, Spirit Airlines dropped off the list after filing for bankruptcy in late 2024.
Looking ahead, airline safety continues to improve. Between 2018 and 2022, flying showed a remarkably low risk of death, estimated at one in 13.7 million flights. In comparison, road travel caused over a million deaths worldwide in 2023, according to the World Health Organization.
Despite such promising statistics, recent incidents remind us that vigilance is crucial. Safety rankings provide a valuable resource for travelers and motivate airlines to uphold high standards.
Staying updated on changes in aviation safety is essential. Keeping an eye on emerging airlines and changes in rankings demonstrates progress in the industry.
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