Air New Zealand, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Australia, TAP Portugal, Finnair, Qatar Airways Join the New Global Airline Safety List 2025

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Air New Zealand, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Australia, TAP Portugal, Finnair, Qatar Airways and more have emerged as the world’s safest airlines for 2025, according to Airline Ratings.com’s highly anticipated global safety rankings. These carriers earned top positions based on strict evaluations of their safety records, fleet modernity, operational excellence, pilot training standards, and overall incident history. The 2025 list reflects not only long-standing industry leaders but also new contenders rising through improved safety practices, offering travelers worldwide a clear view of the most reliable airlines to fly this year.

Air New Zealand Tops Global Airline Safety Rankings for 2025, Outpacing Qantas

In 2025, Air New Zealand has once again claimed the prestigious honor of being the world’s safest airline, narrowly surpassing Australia’s Qantas according to AirlineRatings.com’s comprehensive annual assessment. This globally respected ranking is based on a meticulous review of multiple safety metrics, including operational history, fleet modernity, pilot training standards, and incident records. As air travel continues to rebound and expand, such rankings offer critical insight for passengers choosing their airline partners.

The latest report reflects both stability and significant shifts in the ever-evolving airline safety landscape. While some of the industry’s top names continue to demonstrate remarkable consistency, others have made notable debuts or adjustments in their rankings due to ongoing safety enhancements or isolated incidents.

Full-Service Carriers: The 20 Safest Airlines of 2025

The 2025 rankings feature airlines from across the globe that exemplify the highest standards of passenger safety. Below is the list of the top twenty full-service carriers recognized for their outstanding safety records this year:RankAirline NameIATA Code1Air New ZealandNZ2QantasQF3Cathay PacificCX3Qatar AirwaysQR3EmiratesEK6Virgin AustraliaVA7Etihad AirwaysEY8ANA (All Nippon Airways)NH9EVA AirBR10Korean AirKE11Alaska AirlinesAS12Turkish AirlinesTK13TAP Air PortugalTP14Hawaiian AirlinesHA15American AirlinesAA16SAS Scandinavian AirlinesSK17British AirwaysBA18IberiaIB19FinnairAY20Lufthansa/SwissLH/LX20Japan Airlines (JAL)JL20Air CanadaAC

Air New Zealand’s narrow victory over Qantas came down to a difference of just one and a half points. Both airlines maintained superior safety records and demonstrated excellence in pilot training and operational safety. However, Air New Zealand’s younger, state-of-the-art fleet played a decisive role in securing its first-place position.

In a unique development, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates all shared the third spot, reflecting nearly identical performance across key safety categories such as fleet age, operational incidents, and safety audits.

Several new names emerged on this year’s list. Iberia and Vietnam Airlines, for instance, entered the top twenty for the first time, showcasing their growing emphasis on safety and modern fleet investments. Korean Air also made a significant leap into the top ten following enhanced safety measures and operational improvements. Meanwhile, established leaders like Singapore Airlines and KLM were notably absent this year due to isolated incidents impacting their scores, despite maintaining strong overall reputations for safety.

The World’s Safest Low-Cost Airlines for 2025

The annual ranking also recognizes the safest low-cost airlines (LCCs), offering travelers more affordable options without compromising safety. The 2025 top twenty safest low-cost carriers are:RankAirline NameIATA Code1Hong Kong ExpressUO2Jetstar GroupJQ3RyanairFR4easyJetU25Frontier AirlinesF96AirAsiaAK7Wizz AirW68VietJet AirVJ9Southwest AirlinesWN10VolarisY411flydubaiFZ12NorwegianDY13VuelingVY14Jet2LS15Sun Country AirlinesSY16WestJetWS17JetBlue AirwaysB618Air ArabiaG919IndiGo6E20EurowingsEW

Hong Kong Express made a remarkable rise to claim the top spot among budget carriers this year, largely due to its flawless safety record and complete absence of major incidents. Several new names also entered the rankings, including Zipair, Jet2, and Air Baltic, each demonstrating their commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards despite operating in a highly competitive, cost-sensitive segment of the industry.

Notably, Spirit Airlines was excluded from the 2025 list after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2024. The financial restructuring process aims to stabilize the airline’s operations but temporarily disqualified it from this year’s safety assessment.

A Global Perspective on Aviation Safety

Looking at the broader picture, global aviation safety continues to demonstrate exceptional resilience. A recent analysis covering the years 2018 to 2022 found that the global death risk for passengers remains extraordinarily low, estimated at approximately one fatal accident for every thirteen point seven million flight boardings. This remarkable safety record reflects decades of continuous improvement, technological advancements, and stringent regulatory oversight within the aviation sector.

Air New Zealand, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Australia, TAP Portugal, Finnair, Qatar Airways and more have secured top spots in the 2025 global airline safety rankings, reflecting their exceptional safety standards and operational excellence.

As air travel continues to expand and evolve, such rankings offer reassurance to millions of passengers each year that flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation worldwide.