Due to frequent aviation accidents making headlines, worries regarding air travel safety have increased.
If you're questioning how secure your upcoming flight could be, there's an useful study that eliminates the uncertainty from your reservation process.
AirlineRatings, an airline A review platform has just published its yearly list of the most secure airline companies. It outlines the leading 25 airlines according to various criteria aimed at helping travelers feel more assured during their flights.
In 2025, the airline with the best safety record globally was Air New Zealand For the second consecutive year. The New Zealand airline frequently competes with its neighboring counterpart Qantas for first place, securing the title in 2024 and 2022.
The initial 11 positions in the safest airlines ranking for 2025 are led by carriers from the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. However, European airlines also performed well, securing seven spots within the top 25 entries.
Which European airlines are considered the most secure in 2025?
Turkish Airlines, Positioned between the European and Asian markets, this airline is considered the most secure in Europe. It ranked 13th globally, receiving a seven-star score on the platform.
Although Turkish Airlines serves more routes globally compared to any other carrier, it has not experienced a deadly incident since 2009, when a Boeing 737 crash occurred during landing in Amsterdam. Schiphol Airport Twelve individuals lost their lives due to the accident, while 126 others managed to survive.
In the previous year, Turkish Airlines was honored with accolades for its food service and onboard entertainment, earning a 'World Class' designation from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). It was recognized as the 'Top Airline in Europe' by Skytrax.
TAP Portugal secured the 14th position in the rankings, becoming the second most secure airline in Europe. It has not experienced any passenger loss since 1977 and frequently offers fear-of-flying workshops in collaboration with the Unidade de Cuidados Integrados de Saúde (UCS).
Numerous European airlines occupied the lower portion of the ranking. Specifically, they were SAS at 16th place, British Airways at 17th, Iberia at 18th, Finnair at 19th, and the Lufthansa Group, which also encompasses SWISS at 20th.
For Iberia, this has been a pivotal year, earning recognition for the best on-time performance , excellent airline crew and exceptional food service. This is the first time Iberia has been included in the top 25 safest airlines ranking.
Which are the most secure budget airlines operating in Europe?
AirlineRatings evaluates budget airlines independently from those offering full services, with European carriers performing well in the 2025 list.
Leading the list is Behemoth, a budget-friendly airline. Ryanair which secured third position in the worldwide rankings and was recognized as the most secure low-cost carrier in Europe. Throughout its four-decade existence, the airline has not experienced any fatal incidents, with the company stating "safety and security for our staff and passengers remain our top priority at all times."
Following closely behind was easyJet A British-based airline. It ranked 4th globally, becoming the second most secure budget carrier in Europe. Similar to Ryanair, it has not experienced any fatal accidents during its three decades of operation.
easyJet takes its responsibilities for security and safety extremely seriously," states the airline. "Every aircraft is inspected before each flight and subjected to ongoing safety evaluations. Our cabin staff are equipped to assist you and guarantee your well-being and comfort throughout the journey.
Still further down the ranking, occupying 7th position worldwide, Wizz Air it has established itself as the third most secure budget airline in Europe. Once again, as a fairly recent carrier, it hasn't experienced any loss of passengers and operates a fleet of newly acquired Airbus planes with an average age of less than five years.
Other carriers making the list of the top 25 safest budget airlines globally included Norwegian ranked 12th, Vueling at 13th, Jet2 in 14th place, Eurowings positioned 20th, and airBalt narrowly securing 25th spot.
Neither Jet2 Neither Air Baltic was in the top 25 in earlier rankings.
The British leisure airline Jet2 improved its position due to favorable feedback from passengers and outstanding support services. It remains one of the airlines without any fatalities, having only recorded a limited number of insignificant occurrences.
For Latvian The airline AirBaltic attained a place within the top 25 safest budget carriers, which was a significant achievement.
Ensuring safety has always been and will continue to be our highest concern at airBaltic," states CEO Martin Gauss. "Our hardworking team strives relentlessly to provide a secure and pleasant journey for both our pilots and travelers. Recognition on this international level highlights our dedication to quality.
What criteria determine the most secure airline companies?
AirlineRatings evaluates airline performance using various data factors, along with input from pilots and industry specialists.
Firstly, the report examines particular characteristics of every airline to assess their level of safety. This involves looking at factors such as the age of their airplanes, the total fleet size, the quality of pilot training offered, and the frequency of reported accidents.
Strangely enough, AirlineRatings takes into account an airline’s financial performance, which might appear unrelated to safety. Nevertheless, carriers with poorer finances could be less likely to spend on staff development, upkeep, and upgrades, potentially affecting their capacity to maintain high safety standards.
The rating also takes into account whether the airline operates in a country that has successfully completed the ICAO country assessment, referred to as the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). This evaluation enables ICAO to review how effectively safety supervision is carried out within the country and its adherence to industry standards.
In conclusion, it examines whether the airline has successfully completed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which serves as an international benchmark for evaluating airline operational safety.