Air New Zealand is now the safest airline in the world, according to analysis by a leading aviation group.
Australian-based company AirlineRatings.com publishes its list of the world’s safest airlines annually. The site assesses the flight records of 385 carriers, as well as account audits from aviation governing bodies, crash and serious incident records, safety initiatives, pilot training, fleet age and more.
Last year’s number one airline, Qantas, has slipped to the number two slot, overtaken by Air New Zealand in 2024 by what the site calls ‘an incredibly close’ margin.
In a list of the 25 safest full-service airlines worldwide, British Airways comes 15th, up two spots from last year’s 17th place.
At number 10 is Alaska Airlines, the highest-ranked American carrier (the ranking was decided before the January 5 flight 1282 door blowout). The USA made a strong showing overall: alongside Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines (21st), American Airlines (22nd), and United Airlines (25th) all qualified for the top 25. Though Delta Air Lines, which was number 20 in 2023, has dropped out of the top 25 for 2024.
AirlineRatings.com has ranked the top 25 safest airlines in the world 2024. Analysing the flight histories of 385 carriers, the site names Air New Zealand as the safest full-service airline worldwide
Rivalry for excellence: Qantas and Air New Zealand often jockey for the top spot. Qantas slips to No.2 in 2024, having been awarded the crown in 2023
TOP 25 SAFEST FULL SERVICE AIRLINES FOR 2024
1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas
3. Virgin Australia
4. Etihad Airways
5. Qatar Airways
6. Emirates
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Finnair
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Alaska Airlines
11. SAS
12. Korean Air
13. Singapore Airlines
14. EVA Air
15. British Airways
16. Turkish Airlines
17. TAP Air Portugal
18. Lufthansa/Swiss Group
19. KLM
20. Japan Airlines
21. Hawaiian Airlines
22. American Airlines
23. Air France
24. Air Canada Group
25. United Airlines
AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas noted that Air New Zealand ‘has a firm focus on safety and has excelled across the broad safety spectrum right down to the smallest detail.’
Qantas and Air New Zealand often jockey for the top spot – Air New Zealand was previously named the world’s safest airline in 2022, while Qantas nabbed the accolade in both 2023 and 2021. Since 2013, Air New Zealand has been named the safest carrier in the world seven times.
Praise for the airline came with recognition that the New Zealand landscape provides particularly challenging weather environments for pilots. For example, Wellington Airport is regularly named as one of the windiest in the world, as we’ve reported.
After the top two, the rest of the top 10 safest airlines ranking comprises Virgin Australia (third), Etihad Airways (fourth), Qatar Airways (fifth), Emirates (sixth), All Nippon Airways (seventh), Finnair (eighth), and Cathay Pacific Airways (ninth).
AirlineRatings.com explains that assessment of the airlines takes into account serious incidents, recent fatal accidents, audits from aviation’s governing and industry bodies, profitability, industry-leading safety initiatives, expert pilot training assessment and fleet age.
It does not consider phenomena such as bird strikes, turbulence injuries, weather diversions and lightning strikes, however, as carriers have no control over such events.
Editor Geoffrey Thomas was keen to point out that ‘the safety margins between these top 25 airlines are very small.
He said: ‘Our top 25 safest airlines are all standouts in the industry and are at the forefront of safety, innovation, and launching of new aircraft.’
British Airways comes 15th, up two spots from last year’s 17th place
At number 10 is Alaska Airlines, the highest-ranked American carrier (the ranking was decided before the January 5 flight 1282 door blowout)
TOP 20 SAFEST LOW-COST AIRLINES FOR 2024
1. Jetstar
2. EasyJet
3. Ryanair
4. Wizz
5. Norwegian
6. Frontier
7. Vueling
8. Vietjet
9. Southwest
10. Volaris
11. Flydubai
12. AirAsia Group
13. Cebu Pacific
14. Sun Country
15. Spirit
16. Westjet
17. JetBlue
18. Air Arabia
19. Indigo
20. Eurowings
In addition to evaluating the safest airlines in the world, AirlineRatings.com also published a list of the 20 safest low-cost carriers (see boxout), with budget Australian airline JetStar nabbing the number one spot.
British stalwart easyJet is named the second safest of the cheap carriers, just ahead of Ireland’s Ryanair at number three.
Of the list of 20 low-cost carriers named, Mr Thomas said: ‘These airlines all have an excellent safety culture and a low incident rate.’
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