The 2025 list of the world’s safest airlines is out now and it’s good news for anyone flying in and out of the UAE.
Air New Zealand has soared to the top of the list this year, taking the crown as the safest full-service airline in the world, just edging out Qantas in a photo-finish. Over in the budget airline skies, HK Express leads the pack as the safest low-cost carrier.
Meanwhile, UAE-based airlines have once again proven they’re flying high when it comes to safety. Qatar Airways and Emirates are tied in third place among full-service carriers, with Etihad Airways coming in strong at number five.
On the low-cost side, flydubai and Air Arabia have also been named among the world’s safest, making them solid picks for your next affordable escape.
The rankings come from AirlineRatings.com, which looks at everything from recent safety records to fleet age, pilot training and even financial stability to determine the scores.
The competition was particularly close this year, especially between the top two. The deciding factor? Fleet age — Air New Zealand has a younger average aircraft age than Qantas, which gave it the edge.
There was even a three-way tie for third with identical safety scores for Emirates, Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific, thanks to top-tier training, modern fleets and consistent performance.
As always, it’s worth noting that flying is still one of the safest ways to travel. According to recent studies, the odds of a fatal incident are staggeringly low — about one in 13.7 million per flight boarding. For perspective, road travel remains significantly riskier.
Safest full-service airlines for 2025
- Air New Zealand
- Qantas
- Cathay Pacific; Qatar Airways; Emirates
- Virgin Australia
- Etihad Airways
- ANA
- EVA Air
- Korean Air
- Alaska Airlines
- Turkish Airlines (THY)
- TAP Portugal
- Hawaiian Airlines
- American Airlines
- SAS
- British Airways
- Iberia
- Finnair
- Lufthansa/Swiss
- JAL
- Air Canada
- Delta Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- United Airlines
