While low prices are always a big plus when it comes to air travel, airline safety records are understandably even more important for travellers.
AirlineRatings.com recently published results from their Safest Airlines in the World survey. Below are the top 20 airlines, out of the 407 airlines the company monitors. Qantas took the #1 position for the third year in a row and the remaining 19 airlines are listed in alphabetical order, not by rank. Each of these airlines are at the forefront of safety innovation and launching of new aircraft.
While low prices are always a big plus when it comes to air travel, airline safety records are understandably even more important for travellers. Of the 407 airlines surveyed, 148 have the top seven-star safety ranking; Air Canada was one of these seven-star awarded airlines for safety. Almost 50 airlines received just three stars or less and there are 10 airlines with only one star which were from Indonesia, Nepal and Surinam.
| Air New Zealand | EVA Air | Singapore Airlines |
| Alaska Airlines | Finnair | Swiss |
| All Nippon Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines | United Airlines |
| American Airlines | Japan Airlines | Virgin Atlantic |
| Cathay Pacific Airways | KLM | Virgin Australia |
| Emirates | Lufthansa | |
| Etihad Airways | Scandinavian Airline System |
Due to popular demand AirlineRatings.com also identified their top ten safest low cost airlines. These airlines are listed out in alphabetical order, not by rank. Unlike a number of low cost carriers, these airlines have all passed the stringent International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and have excellent safety records.
| Aer Lingus | Jetstar Australia | Volaris |
| Flybe | Thomas Cook | WestJet |
| HK Express | TUI Fly | |
| Jetblue | Virgin America |
Wondering how they conduct their survey?
AirlineRatings.com’s rating system takes into account a range of factors related to audits from aviation’s governing bodies and lead associations as well as government audits and the airline’s fatality record. AirlineRating.com’s editorial team also examined each airline’s operational history, incident records and operational excellence to arrive at its top twenty safest airlines.
Interested in reading more about your favorite Canadian airline?
| Air Transat | WestJet | Air Canada |