2026 Safest Airlines: Global Rankings Unveiled
El-Balad has released its annual list of the 25 Safest Full-Service and Low-Cost Airlines for 2026. This list is based on safety ratings from a total of 320 airlines assessed by AirlineRatings.com, a leader in airline safety assessments. CEO Sharon Petersen emphasizes the narrow margins between the top-performing airlines, with small point differences that should not imply significant safety disparities.
2026 Rankings Overview
The rankings reveal that the top twenty-five airlines are recognized globally for their aviation safety. The distinctions between the leaders are tight, especially among the best-rated choices.
Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines
- Etihad
- Cathay Pacific
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Air New Zealand
- Singapore Airlines
- EVA Air
- Virgin Australia
- Korean Air
- STARLUX Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Alaska Airlines
- TAP Air Portugal
- SAS
- British Airways
- Vietnam Airlines
- Iberia
- Lufthansa
- Air Canada
- Delta Air Lines
- American Airlines
- Fiji Airways
Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines
- HK Express
- Jetstar Airways
- Scoot
- flydubai
- EasyJet Group
- Southwest Airlines
- airBaltic
- VietJet Air
- Wizz Air Group
- AirAsia Group
- TUI UK
- Vueling
- Norwegian
- JetBlue
- FlyNAS
- Cebu Pacific
- Jet2.com
- Ryanair Ireland and UK
- Spring Airlines China
- Transavia Group
- Eurowings Group
- Volaris
- WestJet Group
- GOL
- SKY Airline, Chile
Key Insights into the Rankings
Petersen noted that Etihad Airways achieved the top position among full-service carriers due to a combination of factors. These include:
- A young fleet
- Advancements in cockpit safety, particularly related to turbulence
- A flawless incident record
- Exceptional turbulence management
STARLUX Airlines and Fiji Airways are recognized for their outstanding safety practices, marking their debut in this year’s rankings. Singapore Airlines made a welcome return after previously being excluded in the prior year due to a turbulence incident.
Low-Cost Airlines Notable Changes
The low-cost category featured notable inclusions such as Spring Airlines China and a significant rise for airBaltic. HK Express secured the top spot for the second consecutive year, reflecting its commendable safety history and fleet management.
Conclusion on Aviation Safety
Every airline in the 2026 list has recorded incidents within the past two years, but the overall incident rate remains impressively low. This highlights an industry commitment to maintaining high safety standards across the globe.
In summary, the 2026 rankings provide valuable insight into the safest airlines, focusing on the crucial elements of safety culture, operational excellence, and risk management.
