World’s top 20 safest airlines

AirlineRatings.com monitors the world’s airlines and has recently announced its list of the top 20 world’s safest, with an Aussie carrier standing out from the pack.

The list includes most of the names you’ve come to associate with quality service and safety in the skies. The list that follows is in alphabetical order.

The top 20 safest airlines for 2018

Air New Zealand

Alaska Airlines

All Nippon Airways

British Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways

Emirates

Etihad Airways

EVA Air

Finnair

Hawaiian Airlines

Japan Airlines

Lufthansa

Qantas

Royal Jordanian Airlines

Scandinavian Airline System

Singapore Airlines

Swiss

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Australia.

However, according to AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas, one airline stands out from the pack when it comes to experience and a flawless record.

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

“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 jet era.

But Qantas is not alone. Long established airlines such as Hawaiian and Finnair have perfect records in the jet era.”

For those budget-conscious travellers, the top 10 safest low-cost carriers may be of more interest.

Top 10 safest low-cost airlines (in alphabetical order)

Aer Lingus

Flybe

Frontier

HK Express

Jetblue

Jetstar Australia/Jetstar Asia

Thomas Cook

Virgin America

Vueling

Westjet.

These airlines have all passed stringent International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and have excellent safety records.

While all airlines experience the odd hiccup, AirlineRatings.com only looks at serious incidents in making its determinations.

“All airlines have incidents every day and many are aircraft manufacture issues, not airline operational problems. And it is the way the flight crew handles incidents that determines a good airline from an unsafe one. So just lumping all incidents together is very misleading. Our Top 20 safest airlines are always at the forefront of safety innovation, operational excellence and the launching of new more advanced aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.”

Have you flown with any of these airlines? Which is your favourite? Which one makes you feel most comfortable? Does Qantas’ reputation factor into your flight plans?