Given the frequent reports of air accidents in the media, worries regarding the security of air travel have escalated.
If you're curious about the safety of your upcoming flight, there’s valuable research available that can help remove the uncertainty from your reservation process.
AirlineRatings, an airline The review website has recently published its yearly list of the globe's most secure airlines. This ranking includes the top 25 air carriers, evaluated through various criteria designed to provide travelers with greater assurance during their flights.
In 2025, the planet's most secure airline was recognized as Air New Zealand For the second consecutive year, the New Zealand-based carrier frequently competes with its Australian counterpart Qantas for the leading position, securing the top spot in both 2024 and 2022.
In the airline safety rankings for 2025, the initial 11 spots are occupied primarily by carriers from the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. However, European airlines also made a strong showing, securing seven positions within the top 25 slots on this list.
Which are the safest airlines in Europe for 2025?
Turkish Airlines, Operating across both European and Asian markets, this airline is considered the safest in Europe. It ranked 13th globally and received a seven-star rating on the platform.
Even though Turkish operates to more destinations worldwide compared to any other airline, it has not experienced a fatal crash since 2009, when a Boeing 737 went down during an attempt to land in Amsterdam. Schiphol Airport . A total of nine individuals perished due to the accident, whereas 126 managed to survive.
In the previous year, Turkish Airlines garnered accolades for both its meals and onboard entertainment systems. Additionally, it earned a 'World Class' distinction from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The airline was also recognized as the 'Best Airline In Europe' by Skytrax.
TAP Portugal secured the 14th spot in the rankings, which makes it the second safest airline in Europe. Since 1977, it has not experienced any fatalities among passengers. Additionally, it frequently collaborates with the Unidade de Cuidados Integrados de Saúde (UCS) to conduct fear of flying workshops.
At the lower end of the ranking, several European airlines took spots from 16th place onwards. Listed consecutively, these included SAS at number 16, followed by British Airways at 17, Iberia at 18, Finnair at 19, with the Lufthansa Group rounding out the list including SWISS at position 20.
For Iberia, this has been a transformative year, earning awards and recognition. best on-time performance , exceptional airline crew and remarkable in-flight service. This marks the first time Iberia has appeared on the top 25 safest airlines list.
Which are the most secure budget airlines in Europe?
AirlineRatings evaluates budget airlines independently from traditional full-service ones, and European carriers performed exceptionally well in the 2025 rankings.
At the top of the list is the massive budget-friendly airline. Ryanair , securing third place globally and being recognized as the safest low-cost carrier in Europe. Throughout its 40-year history, this airline has never experienced a fatal incident, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to placing the safety and security of their staff and passengers at the forefront.
Following closely behind was easyJet , an airline headquartered in the UK. It ranked fourth globally, which makes it the second-safest budget carrier in Europe. Similar to Ryanair, it has not experienced a fatal incident throughout its 30-year operation.
“Security and safety are of paramount importance to us,” states easyJet. “Each aircraft undergoes thorough inspections before takeoff and regularly receives safety maintenance checks. Our cabin crew is equipped to assist you and guarantee your well-being and safety throughout the flight.”
Lower down the ranking at number seven worldwide, Wizz Air gained its position as the third most secure budget carrier in Europe. Given its relative youth, the airline has yet to experience any incidents resulting in passenger loss and maintains a fleet of newer Airbus planes with an average age of less than five years.
In the global ranking of the top 25 safest budget airlines, Norwegian secured the 12th spot, followed by Vueling at number 13, Jet2 at 14, Eurowings at 20, with airBaltic barely making it into the list at the 25th position.
Neither Jet2 Neither Air Baltic nor the top 25 appeared in earlier rankings.
The British leisure airline Jet2 climbed up the ranks thanks to favorable passenger feedback and outstanding customer service. It is also one of those airlines without any fatalities, recording only a minimal number of slight incidents.
For Latvian For airline AirBaltic, attaining a spot amongst the top 25 safest budget carriers was a source of great pride.
Safety remains our foremost concern at airBaltic," states CEO Martin Gauss. "Our committed staff works around the clock to guarantee a secure and pleasant journey for both our crew members and travelers. This international recognition highlights our dedication to maintaining high standards.
What criteria are used to determine which airlines are considered the safest?
AirlineRatings evaluates airlines using various data points and enhances these insights through discussions with pilots and aviation specialists.
Firstly, the report examines particular characteristics of every airline to assess their safety. This involves looking at factors such as the fleet’s average age, the total number of aircraft they operate, the quality of pilot training programs, and the frequency of incident reports.
Notably, AirlineRatings takes into account airline profitability, which might appear as an unconventional factor related to safety. Nonetheless, airlines struggling financially could be less motivated to allocate resources towards training, maintenance, and enhancements, potentially diminishing their capability to sustain high safety standards.
The rankings take into account whether the airline originates from a country that has successfully completed the ICAO country audit, referred to as the Universal Safety OversightAudit Programme (USOAP). This evaluation enables ICAO to gauge how well the nation implements safety oversight and adheres to established best practices.
In conclusion, it examines whether the airline has successfully completed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which serves as a worldwide benchmark for assessing an airline’s operational safety practices.