As investigations continue into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 that left at least 270 people dead, a new global safety ranking is offering a stark reminder of the importance of aviation standards.
The ill-fated Boeing Dreamliner 787 was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff. Of the 242 people onboard, only one survived. Several residents on the ground were also killed. This marks the first major air disaster involving a Dreamliner model, previously known for its impeccable safety record.
In the aftermath, AirlineRatings.com released its list of the world’s safest airlines for 2025, spotlighting carriers that continue to maintain rigorous safety protocols. Air New Zealand claimed the top spot as the safest full-service airline, narrowly beating Qantas. According to AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen, “Whilst both airlines uphold the highest safety standards and pilot training, Air New Zealand continues to have a younger fleet than Qantas which separates the two.”
Tied in third place are Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and Qatar Airways—underscoring the Gulf region’s continued prominence in aviation safety. Etihad Airways secured the fifth position.
Low-cost carriers were also evaluated, with HK Express recognized as the safest in its category. FlyDubai and Air Arabia, both based in the UAE, also made it to the top ranks among budget airlines.
Petersen noted that judging airline safety requires context. “An airline operating only 100 aircraft experiencing three incidents raises greater concern than an airline with 800 aircraft experiencing six incidents,” she said. Factors such as fleet age, pilot training, IOSA certification, and incident history were central to the rankings.
While the latest data shows the risk of death per flight boarding is roughly one in 13.7 million, recent fatal incidents, including December 2024’s deadly crash, have reignited public concern. AirlineRatings.com also emphasized that any carrier found at fault in a crash or failing critical safety audits is automatically excluded from the list.
Despite the emotional toll of recent disasters, aviation remains statistically one of the safest modes of transportation—far less deadly than global road travel, which claimed 1.19 million lives in 2023, according to the WHO.