According to AirlineRatings.com, the top full-service airlines globally are ranked as follows
- Air New Zealand
- Qantas
- Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Emirates (three‑way tie)
- Virgin Australia
- Etihad Airways
- ANA (All Nippon Airways)
- EVA Air
- Korean Air
- Alaska Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
Highlights:
- 🥇 Air New Zealand tops the list again—its young fleet and rigorous pilot training keep it ahead
- The Asia–Pacific region and Middle Eastern carriers dominate these top positions .
- European airlines making strong progress include Turkish, TAP Portugal, SAS, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Lufthansa/Swiss, and Air France
✈️ Safest Low-Cost Airlines (2025)
Per AirlineRatings.com, the top 5 global low-cost carriers are
- HK Express
- Jetstar Group
- Ryanair
- easyJet
- Frontier Airlines
European highlights include Ryanair (3rd globally), easyJet (4th), Wizz Air, Vueling, Jet2, Sun Country, WestJet, JetBlue, Air Arabia, IndiGo, Eurowings, Allegiant, Cebu Pacific, ZipAir, SKY Airline, and Air Baltic
🇺🇸 Safest Airlines in the U.S. (2025)
From AeroTime, the safest U.S. carriers are ranked as follows
Full-Service:
- Alaska Airlines (Global rank #9)
- Hawaiian Airlines (#12 globally)
- American Airlines (#13)
- Delta Air Lines (#21)
- United Airlines (#23)
Low-Cost:
- Frontier Airlines (Global #5)
- Southwest Airlines (#9)
- Sun Country Airlines (#15)
- JetBlue (#17)
- Allegiant Air (#21)
Notably, Alaska and Hawaiian remain the leading U.S. airlines for safety
🛩️ Safest Aircraft in Service (2025)
Per a recent aviation analysis, the safest aircraft models currently flying are
- Boeing 717: No hull losses or fatalities since entering service in 1999.
- Airbus A380: Nearly 1 million flights and 10 million hours with zero fatalities.
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Over a billion passengers, maintained without a single hull‑loss or fatal accident.
🔍 Why These Rankings Matter
AirlineRatings factors include:
- Serious incidents over the past 2–3 years
- Aircraft fleet age, size, and maintenance audits (IATA IOSA, ICAO USOAP)
- Pilot training standards
- Incident and fatality rates
- Airline profitability and operational oversight
TL;DR:
If safety is your top priority when booking a flight through 2025:
- Air New Zealand and Qantas lead globally among full-service airlines.
- HK Express, Jetstar, Ryanair, and easyJet dominate the low-cost segment.
- In the U.S., Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines stand out for safety.
- Consider flying on Boeing 717, Airbus A380, or Boeing 787 aircraft for added confidence—they’re among the safest in the skies today.
