Top 5 Safest Airlines in the World – 2025

Even in 2025, airline safety is a subject that continues to shape public trust. While the global aviation industry boasts an impressive safety record, the question of which carriers are the safest remains a key concern for many travelers. For some, the reassurance of a spotless safety history is the deciding factor when choosing an airline. For others, it’s about knowing which carriers lead in transparency, modern fleet investment, and pilot training.

Each year, AirlineRatings.com publishes a global safety ranking based on key criteria, including incident records, fleet age, government and aviation body audits, and airline-specific safety initiatives. For 2025, five airlines have risen to the top. Here’s why they’ve earned those spots and what they’re doing differently.

1. Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has taken back the top spot in 2025, edging out Qantas by just 1.5 points (News.com.au, 2025). It operates in one of the toughest regions for flying — the South Pacific. Weather shifts fast out there, and the terrain makes for some serious challenges. So high standards aren’t optional.

The airline runs a modern fleet, with fuel-efficient jets like the 787 and A321neo. Its crews train specifically for places like Queenstown, where approaches can be intense. They stick closely to ICAO and IATA safety rules, and they don’t cut corners.

No fatal crashes in the modern jet era. Add in clear protocols and steady investment in safety tech, and it’s easy to see why they’re ranked number one.

2. Qantas

Qantas is often called the safest airline in the world. And for good reason. In 2025, it came in second place, but its safety record is still nearly perfect. There hasn’t been a fatal jet crash since the early jet age. That kind of track record is rare.

They take safety seriously. Qantas uses data to spot problems before they happen. Their pilot training includes some of the best simulators out there. They also jump on new safety tech early — satellite nav, upgraded avionics, that kind of thing (AirlineRatings.com, 2025).

In the past year, they’ve added more Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. The gear is new, but it’s the systems behind it, and the people, that keep them leading the pack.

3. Emirates (Tied with Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific)

Emirates is known for its safety, and a lot of that comes down to the planes it flies. The airline’s based in Dubai and runs one of the youngest long-haul fleets in the world. As of 2025, the average jet is under seven years old. Most are big jets like the A380 and 777, kept in top shape.

Training’s another big factor. Emirates has its own college for that, with high-end simulators and strong CRM programs. Safety checks and audits have gone well. In 2025, the airline got IOSA-certified with no major red flags (AirlineRatings.com, 2025).

Maintenance? That’s all handled by Emirates Engineering. It’s one of the largest and most advanced operations anywhere. Planes get looked after properly, and it shows.

4. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways came in tied for third this year, along with Emirates and Cathay. It’s got a solid safety record, and they’re known for flying really new planes. Most of the fleet is stuff like the A350-1000 or 787-9. They use advanced systems that keep track of engine health and the plane’s structure while it’s flying.

They also take rules seriously. Every audit they’ve had has come back clean. The crew training follows top global standards, sometimes even going past what’s expected.

The way they run things — it’s steady, detailed, no shortcuts. That’s a big part of why their safety ratings keep climbing (News.com.au, 2025).

5. Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific’s presence in the top five is no accident. Based in Hong Kong, the carrier benefits from strong regulatory backing via the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and has maintained a zero-fatality record for decades.

The airline’s modern fleet — mostly Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s — is maintained by HAECO (Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company), known for its rigorous standards. In addition, Cathay invests heavily in pilot training and dispatch planning, particularly for complex routes throughout Asia-Pacific.

Cathay also participates in voluntary incident reporting systems, enhancing transparency and learning from near-miss data — a proactive trait that’s become common among the world’s safest carriers.

How Are These Rankings Calculated?

AirlineRatings.com looks at a few main things when scoring airline safety. One of the big ones is fleet age. Newer planes usually come with better safety systems. They also check how many serious or fatal incidents an airline has had over the last five years.

Then there are audits. Stuff like ICAO and IOSA. Training counts too. So does how an airline handles maintenance and how open they are about it.

In 2025, Air New Zealand just edged past Qantas. It mostly came down to having slightly newer aircraft and doing more frequent simulator training for pilots (News.com.au, 2025).

Notable Mentions

• Virgin Australia: Ranked just outside the top five. Recognized for strong recovery after restructuring and commitment to newer aircraft.
• Etihad Airways: Maintains an impeccable record, aided by a young fleet and deep investments in safety tech.
• ANA (All Nippon Airways): Japan’s flagship airline continues to receive perfect audit marks and boasts extremely low incident rates.
• EVA Air: Taiwan’s EVA Air is known for its clean record and conservative operational culture.
• Alaska Airlines: The highest-ranked U.S. carrier in 2025’s safety rankings.

Final Takeaway: Safety Is Strategy

You know, safety in flying isn’t just about rules anymore. Some airlines take it way further. It’s not just ticking boxes. It’s how they run things. They train hard, keep upgrading, talk openly when something’s off. It’s part of how they work.

When someone picks one of those airlines, it’s not just for peace of mind. It’s because they trust them. You feel that over time. Flight after flight, it adds up. That kind of focus? It’s rare. But it sticks.

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SOURCES:

• AirlineRatings.com, The World’s Safest Airlines for 2025
• News.com.au, Close Battle As World’s Safest Airline Revealed, Jan 2025
• Emirates Engineering
• ICAO Audit Data
• Qantas and Air New Zealand Safety Reports (2024–2025)