Top Airlines Ranked as World's Safest in 2025
In a significant development for the aviation industry, AirlineRatings.com, in collaboration with Skyscanner, has announced the Top 25 Safest Full-Service and Low-Cost Airlines for 2025. This year's list sees some familiar names maintaining their positions, new entrants, and a few notable absences.
The Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2025 is headed by Air New Zealand, with Qantas following closely in second place. Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates share the third spot in a three-way tie. Other airlines in the top 10 include Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, ANA, EVA Air, Korean Air, and more. However, Singapore Airlines did not make the cut this year, despite maintaining high safety ratings. The recent turbulence incident in May 2024 is believed to have contributed to their exclusion from the list [1].
In the Low-Cost Airlines category, HK Express takes the top spot, having claimed the number one position compared to last year's list. Other safest low-cost airlines for 2025 include Jetstar Group, Ryanair, easyJet, Frontier Airlines, AirAsia, Wizz Air, VietJet Air, Southwest Airlines, Volaris, flydubai, Norwegian, Vueling, Jet2, Sun Country Airlines, WestJet, JetBlue Airways, Air Arabia, IndiGo, Eurowings, Allegiant Air, Cebu Pacific, ZipAir, SKY Airline, Air Baltic, and Iberia (making their list debut), and Vietnam Airlines. Notably absent from this year's list are Singapore Airlines and KLM [2].
AirlineRatings.com evaluates airlines based on several factors, including serious incidents, fleet age, fleet size, rate of incidents, fatalities, profitability, IOSA certification, ICAO country audit pass, pilot skill, and training [4]. The safety study revealed the global death risk per flight boarding is approximately one in 13.7 million [6].
The introduction of a flight booking platform by AirlineRatings.com and Skyscanner allows users to search for flights based on safety alongside price and duration, providing passengers with a more informed decision-making process [3]. However, it's essential to note that incidents such as the rapid cabin depressurization on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, where a door plug detached mid-flight, highlight the importance of rigorous quality control processes in aircraft manufacturing [7].
The crash of JAL Flight 516 at Haneda Airport last year underscores the importance of a highly skilled crew and adherence to procedures [8]. As the aviation industry continues to evolve, it's clear that safety will remain a top priority for both passengers and airlines alike.
References: 1. AirlineRatings.com 2. AirlineRatings.com 3. AirlineRatings.com 4. AirlineRatings.com 5. AirlineRatings.com 6. AirlineRatings.com 7. CNN 8. BBC News
The financial success and IOSA certification of airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific contribute to their consistent high rankings in airline safety ratings, as observed by AirlineRatings.com [4]. On the other hand, the finance and industry sectors of the aviation industry play crucial roles in shaping the safety standards and performance of low-cost airlines like HK Express and Southwest Airlines, according to the comprehensive study by AirlineRatings.com [6].
