As air travel bounces back in 2025, travelers are once again placing safety at the top of their list when choosing an airline. AirlineRatings.com, a respected aviation safety and product review site has unveiled its annual rankings of the world’s safest airlines, offering travelers guidance in an industry where safety is non-negotiable.
This year’s report covers 385 airlines worldwide and highlights 50 carriers known for maintaining strong safety records.
The airlines were carefully reviewed based on a combination of key indicators such as the number of serious safety incidents, pilot training quality, fleet age, safety audits, and compliance with global aviation regulations.
AirlineRatings.com emphasized that while aviation remains one of the safest modes of transportation, the recent Air India crash has reminded the world of the importance of strict safety standards and operational excellence. The report aims to restore confidence by showing which airlines are leading in passenger safety.
The evaluation process also considered factors such as IOSA certification (IATA’s global safety standard), ICAO audits and each airline’s operational transparency. Airlines with a consistent track record of safety and strong crew training standards were scored higher.
Here’s a look at the top-rated airlines of 2025:
Safest Full-Service Airlines
| Rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 1 | Air New Zealand |
| 2 | Qantas |
| 3 | Cathay Pacific |
| 4 | Qatar Airways |
| 5 | Emirates |
| 6 | Virgin Australia |
| 7 | Etihad Airways |
| 8 | ANA |
| 9 | EVA Air |
| 10 | Korean Air |
| 11 | Alaska Airlines |
| 12 | Turkish Airlines |
| 13 | TAP Portugal |
| 14 | Hawaiian Airlines |
| 15 | American Airlines |
| 16 | SAS |
| 17 | British Airways |
| 18 | Iberia |
| 19 | Finnair |
| 20 | Lufthansa/Swiss |
| 21 | JAL |
| 22 | Air Canada |
| 23 | Delta Airlines |
| 24 | Vietnam Airlines |
| 25 | United Airlines |
Safest Low-Cost Airlines
| Rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 1 | HK Express |
| 2 | Jetstar Group |
| 3 | Ryanair |
| 4 | easyJet |
| 5 | Frontier Airlines |
| 6 | AirAsia |
| 7 | Wizz Air |
| 8 | VietJet Air |
| 9 | Southwest Airlines |
| 10 | Volaris |
| 11 | flydubai |
| 12 | Norwegian |
| 13 | Vueling |
| 14 | Jet2 |
| 15 | Sun Country |
| 16 | WestJet |
| 17 | JetBlue Airways |
| 18 | Air Arabia |
| 19 | IndiGo |
| 20 | Eurowings |
| 21 | Allegiant Air |
| 22 | Cebu Pacific |
| 23 | ZipAir |
| 24 | SKY Airline |
| 25 | Air Baltic |
While no airline can claim to be completely risk-free, these 50 carriers have shown a strong commitment to safety. Their continued investment in crew training, aircraft maintenance, and operational upgrades ensures they stay ahead in a fast-evolving industry.
Passengers planning trips in 2025 can take comfort in knowing that safety remains a top priority for these leading airlines, reinforcing trust in air travel around the globe.
