Which Airline Tops The Safety List? The 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines For 2025

When it’s time to book a flight, we all have one big question: Which airline is the safest? Sure, comfort and luxury matter, but nothing beats the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're flying safely.  

Which Airline Tops The Safety List? The 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines For 2025

That’s why AirlineRatings.com has put together a list of the world’s top 25 safest full-service airlines for 2025. They reviewed 385 airlines to create this ranking, and guess who took the top spot? Air New Zealand! It’s followed by Qantas in second place, while Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates tied for third.  

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How Are Airlines Ranked?  

The rankings are based on several key factors. These include:  

1) Serious incidents reported over the past two years  

2) Fleet age and size  

3) Incident rates and fatalities  

4) Profitability  

5) Safety certifications like IOSA  

6) ICAO audit results  

7) Pilot training and skills  

The Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2025  

Here’s the full list of winners:  

1. Air New Zealand  

2. Qantas  

3. Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates (tie)  

4. Virgin Australia  

5. Etihad Airways  

6. ANA  

7. EVA Air  

8. Korean Air  

9. Alaska Airlines  

10. Turkish Airlines  

11. TAP Portugal  

12. Hawaiian Airlines  

13. American Airlines  

14. SAS  

15. British Airways  

16. Iberia  

17. Finnair  

18. Lufthansa/Swiss  

19. JAL  

20. Air Canada  

21. Delta Airlines  

22. Vietnam Airlines  

23. United Airlines  

Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings.com, shared how close the competition was. “It was a tight race between Air New Zealand and Qantas for first place, with only 1.5 points separating them. Both airlines maintain top-notch safety standards, but Air New Zealand’s younger fleet gave it the edge.”  

As for the three-way tie for third? Petersen explained, “Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates scored equally in fleet age, pilot skill, safety practices, and number of incidents. We simply couldn’t separate them.”  

What About Budget Airlines? 

 

Good news if you love affordable travel! AirlineRatings.com also released a list of the top 25 safest low-cost airlines for 2025. These budget-friendly airlines still prioritize safety:  

1. Hong Kong 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 Airlines  

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  

So, What’s Your Favorite Airline?  

Do you already have a go-to airline for your travels? Or are you thinking about trying one of these top-rated options? Let us know in the comments! Safe travels!