Safest Airlines in the World for 2023

AirlineRatings.com has revealed the 20 safest airlines in the world for 2023, which includes five from the US.
Australia-based Qantas stole the top spot from Air New Zealand this year, but by a very thin margin.
The website also revealed the top 20 safety low-cost carriers — another five of which were from the US.

Last year, many people took their first flights after the pandemic travel hiatus, while for some 2023 will be the year they get back on board.

But if taking a break from flying means you’re feeling more nervous than usual about jetting off, booking with one of these airlines may reassure you.

AirlineRatings.com have analyzed 385 different air travel companies to find the 20 safest in the world. In a separate poll, they’ve also pulled together the top 20 safest low-cost airlines. So whether you’re flying first-class or economy, you’ll know you’re in safe hands.

To work out their top 20, AirlineRatings.com looked at a range of factors, including serious incident records for the past two years, government audits, fleet age, and of course, COVID-19 safety protocols.

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Which is the safest airline to fly in 2023?

This year, the safest airline in the world is Australia’s Qantas—which has held the title numerous times before but slipped to the number seven spot in 2022. “Over its 100-year operational history the world’s oldest continuously operating airline has amassed an amazing record of firsts in operations and safety and is now accepted as the industry’s most experienced airline,” AirlineRatings’ editors wrote.

Five U.S. airlines made a list, including Alaska Airlines, which is ranked number 8th on the list and the only U.S. carrier to make the top 10. Among the other U.S. airlines that made the cut are Hawaiian Airlines (number 12), United Airlines (14), American Airlines (19), and Delta Airlines (20).

The complete list of AirlineRatings’ top 20 safest airlines in the world for 2023 are:

Qantas
- Country: Australia
- Average Fleet Age: 14 years
- 2022 Ranking: 7
Air New Zealand
- Country: New Zealand
- Average Fleet Age: 8.7 years
- 2022 Ranking: 1
Etihad Airways
- Country: UAE
- Average Fleet Age: 7.1 years
- 2022 Ranking: 2
Qatar Airways
- Country: Qatar
- Average Fleet Age: 8.2 years
- 2022 Ranking: 3
Singapore Airlines
- Country: Singapore
- Average Fleet Age: 7.1 years
- 2022 Ranking: 4
TAP Air Portugal
- Country: Portugal
- Average Fleet Age: 9 years
- 2022 Ranking: 5
Emirates
- Country: UAE
- Average Fleet Age: 9.2 years
- 2022 Ranking: 20
Alaska Airlines
- Country: US
- Average Fleet Age: 9 years
- 2022 Ranking: 8
EVA Air
- Country: Taiwan
- Average Fleet Age: 8 years
- 2022 Ranking: 9
Virgin Australia/Atlantic
- Country: Australia/UK
- Average Fleet Age: 23.4/6.8 years
- 2022 Ranking: 10
Cathay Pacific Airways
- Country: Hong Kong
- Average Fleet Age: 10.5 years
- 2022 Ranking: 11
Hawaiian Airlines
- Country: US
- Average Fleet Age: 11.5 years
- 2022 Ranking: 12
SAS
- Country: Sweden
- Average Fleet Age: 8.9 years
- 2022 Ranking: 6
United Airlines
- Country: US
- Average Fleet Age: 16.8 years
- 2022 Ranking: 19
Lufthansa/Swiss Group
- Country: Germany
- Average Fleet Age: 13 years
- 2022 Ranking: 14
Finnair
- Country: Finland
- Average Fleet Age: 12.4 years
- 2022 Ranking: 15
British Airways
- Country: UK
- Average Fleet Age: 13.6 years
- 2022 Ranking: 17
KLM
- Country: Netherlands
- Average Fleet Age: 13.1 years
- 2022 Ranking: 16
American Airlines
- Country: US
- Average Fleet Age: 12.4 years
- 2022 Ranking: 13
Delta Air Lines
- Country: US
- Average Fleet Age: 14.7 years
- 2022 Ranking: 18