Doha: Qatar Airways has been ranked fourth among the Top 25 Safest Full-Service
Airlines for 2026, according to the latest global safety assessment
released by aviation safety and product rating website AirlineRatings.
The
ranking was compiled after evaluating 320
airlines worldwide, with overall safety scores calculated based on a
wide range of criteria including incident rates per flight, fleet age, serious
safety incidents, pilot training standards, and compliance with international
safety audits.
For
2026, Etihad Airways claimed the
top position as the world’s safest full-service airline, marking the first time a Gulf carrier has secured the
number-one spot. It was followed by Cathay Pacific in second place and Qantas in third, while Emirates
completed the Top Five list.
Commenting
on the rankings, AirlineRatings CEO
Sharon Petersen said Etihad’s top position was the result of a
combination of factors, including a young and modern fleet, advanced cockpit
safety systems—particularly those addressing turbulence—its crash-free history,
and the lowest incident rate per flight among all airlines assessed. She also
highlighted the airline’s participation in independent onboard safety audits
and its strong adherence to turbulence management protocols in the cabin.
Petersen
noted that turbulence prevention
received greater emphasis in the 2026 rankings, as turbulence continues
to be the leading cause of in-flight injuries. Airlines’ participation in
programmes such as the IATA Turbulence
Aware initiative, along with transparency and cooperation in safety
audits, played a significant role in the final scores.
She
further stressed that the differences between the world’s safest airlines are
extremely narrow. “Less than four points separate positions one through
fourteen, and just 1.3 points divide the top six full-service airlines. All
airlines in the Top 25 are global leaders in aviation safety, and claims that
one is significantly safer than another are misleading,” Petersen said.
Qatar
Airways’ strong performance once again underscores its commitment to passenger
safety, operational excellence, and adherence to the highest international
aviation standards.
Top 25 Safest
Full-Service Airlines for 2026 (with Countries)
1. Etihad Airways
– United Arab Emirates
2. Cathay Pacific
– Hong Kong
3. Qantas
– Australia
4. Qatar Airways
– Qatar
5. Emirates
– United Arab Emirates
6. Air New Zealand
– New Zealand
7. Singapore Airlines
– Singapore
8. EVA Air
– Taiwan
9. Virgin Australia
– Australia
10.
Korean Air – South Korea
11.
STARLUX Airlines – Taiwan
12.
Turkish Airlines – Türkiye
13.
Virgin Atlantic – United Kingdom
14.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) – Japan
15.
Alaska Airlines – United States
16.
TAP Air Portugal – Portugal
17.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines – Sweden / Denmark /
Norway
18.
British Airways – United Kingdom
19.
Vietnam Airlines – Vietnam
20.
Iberia – Spain
21.
Lufthansa – Germany
22.
Air Canada – Canada
23.
Delta Air Lines – United States
24.
American Airlines – United States
25.
Fiji Airways – Fiji
