The safest airlines for this 2025

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The time has come to review the list of which are the safest airlines to fly during this 2025. Air New Zealand press photo

AirlineRatings.com, the leading authority on airline safety and product ratings, has revealed its long-awaited list of 25 Safer Airlines for 2025. This year's rankings reveal tight competition at the top for traditional airlines, with Air New Zealand clinging to the coveted first place by a narrow margin. The low-cost category sees the emergence of a new leader, with Hong Kong Express claiming the number one spot.

The safest in the world for 2025

The battle for first place in the legacy or traditional service category remains strong, with Air New Zealand surpassing its long-standing rival, Qantas, for just 1,50 points. Both airlines have exceptional safety records and rigorous pilot training programs. Nevertheless, Air New Zealand's youngest fleet finally tipped the scales in its favor.

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas
3. Cathay Pacific; Qatar Airways; Emirates
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

This year's rankings feature a unique twist with a three-way tie for third place. Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Emirates showed consistently high scores on several security metrics, including fleet age, the skill of the pilots, security practices and incident rates, that AirlineRatings.com could not definitively separate them.

The list of 2025 welcomes Iberia and Vietnam Airlines for the first time, while Korean Air rise to the coveted 10 first. Nevertheless, some familiar names are absent this year. Singapore Airlines and KLM, despite maintaining exceptional safety records and its coveted seven-star safety rating, narrowly missed out due to recent incidents.

The safest low cost airlines in 2025

Low-cost category sees significant shakeout. Hong Kong Express takes the lead, showing an impeccable safety record with no serious incidents reported. New additions to the list include Zipair, Jet2 and Air Baltic, demonstrating the evolving landscape of the low-cost market.

1. Hong Kong Express
2. Jetstar Group
3. Ryanair
4. easyJet
5. Frontier Airlines
6. Air Asia
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

A notable absence in the low-cost category is Spirit Airlines. The bankruptcy filing of Chapter 11 by the airline in November 2024, a measure aimed at restructuring finances and reducing debt, automatically disqualifies it from security rankings due to concerns about potential operational challenges associated with financial instability.

The safety ratings of AirlineRatings.com go beyond incident statistics. The process incorporates a comprehensive evaluation that considers factors such as the age of the fleet, pilot training, IOSA certification, country audits OACI and even the airline's ability to manage incidents effectively.

Crucial role of incident management highlighted in analysis. An incident does not necessarily translate into a security risk. The experience of the crew and compliance with safety protocols can significantly mitigate the situation. The recent incident involving the flight 516 of JAL at Haneda airport exemplifies this. The crew's skillful response and passengers' compliance with safety procedures averted a potential disaster..

A reminder of shared responsibility

The analysis also recognizes the influence of aircraft and engine manufacturing on safety. For instance, the rapid cabin depressurization experienced by flight 1282 from Alaska Airlines Points to possible quality control failures within Boeing manufacturing processes. This incident emphasizes the shared responsibility to maintain safety across the aviation industry..

The safest means of transportation

Despite the tragic loss of life in some recent accidents, including the December incident 2024, Flying is still statistically safer than driving. A recent study reveals a risk of death from flight boarding of approximately one in 13,7 million compared to 1,19 million deaths from traffic accidents reported by the WHO in 2023.

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