The global list has been compiled by travel information website Airline Ratings, and includes factors such as fatal accidents, major incidents, safety initiatives, governing body reports, profitability, pilot training and the age of airline fleets.
Qantas was previously number one but has been edged out for 2024 by Air New Zealand by “the narrowest margin” according to Airline Ratings’ editor-in-chief, Geoffrey Thomas.
Qantas trumped the Kiwi airline by a similar margin in 2023.
“Safety margins between the top 25 airlines are very small,” says Thomas.
“Air New Zealand excelled across the broad safety spectrum, never losing sight of the smallest detail.
“The airline operates in some of the most challenging weather environments, which test pilot skills.
“For instance, Wellington is one of the windiest airports in the world, while Queenstown is a huge navigation challenge.”
In a glowing endorsement for Australasia’s aviation industry, Virgin Australia is ranked third on the list, while Jetstar – a Qantas subsidiary –tops the list for safest low-cost airlines worldwide for 2024.
When compiling the annual safety list, Airline Ratings overlooks factors beyond an airlines’ control, such as bird strikes, weather diversions, turbulence injuries and lightning strikes.
Airline Ratings’ top 25 safest airlines for 2024
- Air New Zealand
- Qantas
- Virgin Australia
- Etihad Airways
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- All Nippon Airways
- Finnair
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Alaska Airlines
- SAS
- Korean Air
- Singapore Airlines
- EVA Air
- British Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Lufthansa/Swiss Group
- KLM
- Japan Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- American Airlines
- Air France
- Air Canada Group
- United Airlines
Airline Ratings’ top 20 safest low-cost airlines for 2024
- Jetstar
- easyJet
- Ryanair
- Wizz Air
- Norwegian
- Frontier
- Vueling
- Vietjet
- Southwest
- Volaris
- Flydubai
- AirAsia Group (AirAsia, AirAsia X, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia India)
- Cebu Pacific
- Sun Country
- Spirit
- Westjet
- JetBlue
- Air Arabia
- Indigo
- Eurowings
