Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Etihad ranks first among full-service airlines and HK Express ranks first among low-cost airlines in AirlineRatings’ 2026 safety comparison. They lead two separate lists—not one combined ranking—and the publisher cautions that small differences in position do not mean one leading airline is significantly safer than another. The ranking is a comparative guide, not a guarantee about a specific flight, aircraft or route.
AirlineRatings’ 2026 top five airlines
Published January 13, 2026, the comparison names 25 airlines in each of two categories, selected from the 320 airlines AirlineRatings monitors. Here are the first five in each list, in the publisher’s published order:
| Rank | Full-service | Low-cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Etihad | HK Express |
| 2 | Cathay Pacific | Jetstar Airways |
| 3 | Qantas | Scoot |
| 4 | Qatar | flydubai |
| 5 | Emirates | EasyJet Group |
These positions are drawn from AirlineRatings’ 2026 announcement. A first-place finish in one category cannot be compared directly with first place in the other as if both were measured on a single scale.
What the ranking measures
AirlineRatings says it considers incident rates adjusted for total flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training and international safety audits. For 2026, it placed greater emphasis on turbulence prevention, including whether an airline participates in IATA Turbulence Aware or an equivalent program, findings from its own onboard safety audit, and airline transparency.
#1 Best Overall
AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen described the criteria this way: “Much of our criteria remains consistent year on year and considers incident rates adjusted for the total number of flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training and international safety audits. One change for this year is that we are placing a greater emphasis on turbulence prevention, as it remains the leading cause of in-flight injuries.” This is the publisher’s explanation of its ranking, not a finding by an independent regulator.
Why small ranking gaps are easy to misread
AirlineRatings reported that less than four points covered full-service positions one through 14, and that 1.3 points separated positions one through six in that category. Those figures indicate a close comparison within the publisher’s scoring system; they do not establish a meaningful difference in an individual traveler’s risk.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Petersen warned against overstating the result: “All airlines in the Top 25 are world leaders in aviation safety, and claims that one is significantly safer or less safe than another are both sensationalist and false.” Read the placements as relative positions in AirlineRatings’ lists, not as a precise measure of how much safer one airline is than another.
What an incident rate does—and does not—tell you
AirlineRatings gives an incident-rate range of 0.002 to 0.09 per flight across the listed airlines. Its article does not define the unit and denominator in enough detail to translate that range into an individual passenger’s chance of an accident, injury or other harm. It should not be read as a percentage or used to calculate personal risk.
The publisher also says every airline on its 2026 lists recorded incidents in the preceding two years. The existence of an incident alone does not show that an airline is unsafe: the ranking considers rates relative to flights as well as other factors. For the same reason, a position on the list is not a promise that every flight will be incident-free.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How this differs from other airline safety ratings and accident reports
AirlineRatings’ annual top-25 lists are distinct from its broader star-rating framework. Its safety-ratings page describes parameters that include IOSA accreditation, serious pilot-related incidents over a period of up to two years, and operating safety concerns. The page says Seven-Star PLUS recognizes an additional independent cabin-safety assessment; PLUS is not a higher safety level than Seven-Star.
Rank #4
IATA’s Annual Safety Report is a separate industry report, not another version of AirlineRatings’ ranking. IATA says its Accident Classification Task Force validates and categorizes accidents involving scheduled or charter passenger or cargo services using aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of at least 5,700 kg. Its report page cautions that investigations may be incomplete when an accident is classified and that sector data can be updated, potentially changing current classifications or historical rates. The report’s accident categories and statistics are therefore not interchangeable with AirlineRatings’ list positions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
How to use the ranking when choosing a flight
- Compare an airline with others in the same category; the two lists are not a single combined scale.
- Treat the order as one publisher’s annual comparison, not an assurance about a particular route, aircraft or departure.
- Read any safety statistic alongside its scope: the time period, operations counted, denominator and geography matter.
- Do not infer that an airline is unsafe solely because it has recorded an incident; consider the rate and the other criteria the ranking says it evaluates.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
