According to a well-respected annual safety ranking, Air New Zealand takes the top spot, closely followed by Qantas. Industry experts note that the slim margin between these airlines is primarily attributed to Air New Zealand’s younger fleet. Not far behind are Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways , and Emirates , which all share third place in this prestigious list.
Interestingly, the Asia-Pacific region dominates the top positions, with no European airlines featuring in the first nine spots. Coming in tenth, Turkish Airlines , with its strategic hub in Istanbul connecting continents, also stands out for its extensive route network, which has been recognised globally. For the first time, a Spanish airline has earned a place on the list of the world's safest carriers.
Iberia , which operates under the IAG Group, was recognised partly due to its state-of-the-art maintenance facilities. These include a fully operational centre for servicing Pratt & Whitney GTF engines at its La Muñoza complex, located near Madrid-Barajas Airport. The IAG Group is also represented in the ranking by British Airways .
Other notable European entries include Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Finnair, Lufthansa , and Swiss International Air Lines. United Airlines, which will resume their direct flights to Mallorca in May came in at 23. Top 20 safest airlines in the world in 2025: This year, Hong Kong Express has emerged as the leader in the low-cost airline category.
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