I really enjoyed this recent RankingRoyals visualisation of the top 20 safest airlines in the world according to AirlineRatings.com. This is reproduced with their permission.
In coming up with its list, the reviewers at airlineratings.com consider a range of factors, including audits from aviation’s governing and industry bodies; government audits; aircraft crashes and serious incident records; profitability, industry-leading safety initiatives, and fleet age.
It’s also important to keep in mind that airline safety ratings are not absolute measures of an airline’s safety record, and different agencies may have different opinions based on their criteria and data sources. Not appearing on the top 20 list doesn’t mean the airline is unsafe.
The Top 20 safest airlines for 2023 are:
- Qantas – In Rain Man, Raymond Babbit (Dennis Hoffman) states airline crash statistics to Charlie Babbit (Tom Cruise) and demands to fly Qantas as it’s the safest airline in the world.
The 100-year-old Australian carrier has been solely or jointly the world’s safest airline from 2014 to 2021, according to airline ratings.com. In 2022, it dipped to second place. Qantas has strict safety protocols, industry-leading safety initiatives and strong adherence to industry regulations. It is famously remembered for its superb handling of an engine failure in an Airbus 380 over Singapore in 2016 and the subsequent grounding of the A380 fleet.
2. Air New Zealand – Consistently invests in newer aircraft and technologies to enhance safety. Air New Zealand’s fleet of aircraft is relatively new, overall, with an average age of years. In 2022, they knocked Qantas off the number-one perch for a year!
3. Etihad Airways – Trains their pilots through advanced simulation technology and closely monitors their performance.
4. Qatar Airways – Maintains a young fleet with regular maintenance and strict safety standards. As they have been my favourite airline for service and products, I also want to be safe. I am concerned, however, that sometimes their approach can feel a little heavy-handed. In 2022, they sacked four pilots after they hit a light pole. In May 2020, during the COVID shutdown, they terminated a pilot and then presented them with a bill for their training as they hadn’t finished their time of service with the airline. They have threatened Pilots For taxiing With Two Engines and pilots have warned of a culture of “under-counting their work hours and ignoring complaints of fatigue”.
5. Singapore Airlines – Prides itself on its rigorous safety culture and constantly seeks to improve.
6. TAP Air Portugal – Has implemented numerous safety measures, including disinfecting planes between flights.
7. Emirates – Has a strong focus on safety and invests heavily in pilot training and advanced aircraft technology.
8. Alaska Airlines – Regularly conducts safety audits and training for its employees.
9. EVA Air – Maintains a modern fleet with advanced safety features and adheres to strict safety protocols.
10. Virgin Australia/Atlantic – Both have a well-established safety culture and regularly review and updates its safety procedures. Neitehr have had a fatal accident.
11. Cathay Pacific Airways – Has a strong safety record and invests heavily in pilot training and advanced technology.
12. Hawaiian Airlines – This airline has never had an incident since it sounding in 1929. Prioritises safety in all aspects of their operations, from maintenance to crew training.
13. SAS – Has a comprehensive safety management system in place and regularly conducts safety audits.
14. United Airlines – Has implemented numerous safety measures, including frequent cleaning and disinfecting of planes.
15. Lufthansa/Swiss Group – Maintains a high standard of safety and invests heavily in pilot training and advanced technology.
16. Finnair – Has a strong focus on safety and adheres to strict safety protocols.
17. British Airways – Prioritises safety in all aspects of their operations and regularly conducts safety audits.
18. KLM – Has a comprehensive safety management system in place and adheres to strict safety standards.
19. American Airlines – Has a well-established safety culture and invests heavily in pilot training and advanced technology.
20. Delta Air Lines – Has a strong focus on safety and invests heavily in pilot training and advanced technology.
Leave a Reply