These Are the 25 Safest Airlines in 2024

Published by FareCompare on January 8, 2024

The results are in: Air New Zealand has once again earned the top ranking of the world's safest airlines for 2024. New Zealand’s flagship carrier claimed the number one spot, dethroning its neighbor and last year's winner Qantas. AirlineRatings.com compiles the rankings of safest airlines each year. Air New Zealand last won the top spot two years ago, in 2022.

Rounding out the top five safest airlines are Australia's Qantas, Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways.

"Our top 25 safest airlines [in] 2024 are always at the forefront of safety innovation, operational excellence, and the launching of new more advanced aircraft," including the Airbus A350, the Boeing 787, and the Boeing 777-9 aircraft, AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said in a statement.

To determine the safest airlines, the group analyzed at several categories, including any crashes over the last five years, any serious incidents over the past two years, aviation industry audits, government audits, the age of a carrier’s fleet, and the training their crew receive.

While the competition was close between the two top airlines, Thomas said Air New Zealand edged out Qantas thanks to the Australian carrier’s fleet age.

When it comes to airlines in the United States, only Alaska Airlines made the top 10, coming in at the tenth slot. Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines each made the list as well, coming in at No. 21, No. 22, and No. 25, respectively. This is a poorer performance overall for these airlines. Last year, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines all ranked within the top 20.

Read on for the complete list of safest airlines.