Air New Zealand has secured the top position as the world’s safest airline for 2025, narrowly surpassing Qantas thanks to its younger fleet.
The annual rankings by AirlineRatings.com, which evaluate 385 airlines, spotlight the carriers with the best safety practices, fleet age, pilot training, and incident management.
The rest of the Top 10 full-service airlines include Qantas, a three-way tie between Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates for third, followed by Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, ANA, EVA Air, and Korean Air, which climbed into the top 10 this year. Notable new entries in the Top 25 include Iberia and Vietnam Airlines, while Singapore Airlines and KLM narrowly missed making the list due to reported incidents in the past year.
The Top 25 Full-Service Airlines for 2025
- Air New Zealand
- Qantas
- Cathay Pacific; Qatar Airways; Emirates
- Virgin Australia
- Etihad Airways
- ANA
- EVA Air
- Korean Air
- Alaska Airlines
- Turkish Airlines (THY)
- TAP Portugal
- Hawaiian Airlines
- American Airlines
- SAS
- British Airways
- Iberia
- Finnair
- Lufthansa/Swiss
- JAL
- Air Canada
- Delta Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- United Airlines
The rankings also highlight the importance of incident management, with CEO Sharon Petersen emphasizing how a well-trained crew can turn a potential tragedy into a manageable situation. For example, the skilled handling of Japan Airlines Flight 516’s crash at Haneda Airport demonstrated the critical role of proper procedures and training, boosting the airline’s safety profile despite the incident.
On the low-cost carrier side, Hong Kong Express secured the top spot for the safest airline in 2025, maintaining a flawless safety record. Other notable mentions include Jetstar Group, Ryanair, and easyJet in the top five. Newcomers to the list include Zipair, Jet2, and Air Baltic, while Spirit Airlines dropped out due to financial instability following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in late 2024.
The Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines for 2025
- Hong Kong Express
- 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
AirlineRatings.com evaluates airlines using rigorous criteria, such as the number of incidents, fleet age, pilot skill, profitability, and regulatory certifications. The rankings also factor in how airlines handle incidents, emphasizing transforming critical situations into safe outcomes.
Beyond the rankings, the website partnered with Skyscanner to introduce a new flight booking platform that allows passengers to filter flights by safety ratings, price, and duration. This collaboration offers travelers a unique tool for making more informed decisions when booking flights.
Flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation. Despite a global rise in aviation-related fatalities in December 2024, the overall risk per flight remains minimal compared to road travel. The 2025 safety rankings highlight the airlines that continue to prioritize passenger and crew safety, making them the preferred choices for travelers worldwide.
