Qantas named world’s safest airline

‘Qantas has been the lead airline in virtually every major operational safety advancement over the past 60 years,’ says ratings chief

(Qantas)

Qantas has been named the world’s safest airline in a new ranking.

The Australian flag carrier was awarded the top spot by AirlineRatings.com, which assesses 385 carriers worldwide, in its 2021 ranking.

It combines audits from aviation governing bodies, government audits, airlines' crash and serious incident records, fleet age and pilot training and culture when drawing up the annual list.

“Australia’s Qantas has been recognised by the British Advertising Standards Association in a test case as the world’s most experienced airline,” said AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas.

“Qantas has been the lead airline in virtually every major operational safety advancement over the past 60 years and has not had a fatality in the pure jet era.”

The airline was followed by Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Emirates.

Two British airlines made the top 20, with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic coming in 10th and 11th place respectively.

Thomas added of the list: “These airlines are standouts in the industry and are at the forefront of safety, innovation, and launching of new aircraft.

“In fact, there is very little between the top 20, they are all standouts.”

AirlineRatings.com also produced a separate list of the 10 safest low-cost airlines, with both easyJet and Ryanair making the cut.

In a new rating born of the pandemic, it also highlighted the 20 best airlines for “Covid compliance”.

Airlines were assessed based on website information about Covid-19 procedures, the provision of face masks for passengers and PPE for crew, the modification of meal services, the deep cleaning of aircraft, the provision of a personal sanitiser kit and social distancing measures on board.

British Airways was among the commended airlines.

20 safest airlines

Qantas

Qatar Airways  

Air New Zealand

Singapore Airlines  

Emirates  

Eva Air  

Etihad Airways  

Alaska Airlines  

Cathay Pacific

British Airways  

Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic  

Hawaiian Airlines  

Southwest Airlines  

Delta Air Lines  

American Airlines  

SAS  

Finnair  

Lufthansa  

KLM  

United Airlines  

10 safest low-cost airlines  

(In alphabetical order)

Air Arabia  

Allegiant

EasyJet

Frontier

Jetstar Group

Jetblue

Ryanair

Vietjet

Westjet

Wizz Air

20 best Covid compliant airlines  

(In alphabetical order)

Air Baltic  

Air New Zealand

Alaska Airlines

All Nippon Airways

AirAsia

British Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways

Delta Air Lines

Emirates

Etihad Airways

Eva Air

Japan Airlines

Jetblue

KLM

Korean Airlines

Lufthansa

Singapore Airlines

Southwest

Qatar Airways  

Westjet