World's safest airlines: UAE's Emirates, Etihad top the charts

All you nervous flyers out there, you may breathe easy.

For, UAE’s official carriers – Dubai-based Emirates airline and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways – have been ranked as the world’s safest airlines for 2016 with a perfect 7/7 safety score.

Aviation analysts at AirlineRatings.com have named 20 of the world’s airlines (from among the 407 airlines it monitors) that are on top of their game when it comes to ensuring passenger protection.

Two of the top 20 safest airlines in the world are based in the UAE by AirlineRatings.com, a safety and product rating website.

The portal gives Emirates a safety rating and product rating of 7/7.  While rating the strengths of the airline, the website notes that Emirates is one of only a few airlines that operates a fleet of wide-bodied aircraft, has in-flight entertainment system, shows consistency and quality of in-flight product and is based at one of the world’s largest and most efficient airports.

Etihad, too, scores a perfect 7 on safety and product rating. The website highlights that the airline’s award winning in-flight product in all classes and nannies available on board to assist with children on some long haul flights are its major strengths while its unique one-of-a-kind residence in first class is an X Factor.

“Our top 20 safest airlines are always at the forefront of safety innovation, operational excellence and the launching of new more advanced aircraft,” says AirlineRatings.com editor Geoffrey Thomas. "These airlines are always a byword for excellence in the safety space.”

AirlineRatings.com, which launched its annual listing in 2013, says its editorial team also examined each airline’s operational history, incident records and operational excellence to arrive at its Top 20 safest airlines.

Of the 407 airlines surveyed, 148 have the top seven-star safety ranking but almost 50 have just three stars or less.

Australia’s Qantas makes it to the top of the list for the third year running. In selecting Qantas as the world’s safest airline, AirlineRatings.com noted that over its 95-year history, the world’s oldest continuously operating airline has amassed an extraordinary record of firsts in operations and safety and is now accepted as the industry’s most experienced carrier.

Here is the full list (in alphabetical order) that make up the World’s Top 20 safest airlines.

Air New Zealand

Alaska Airlines

All Nippon Airlines

American Airlines

Cathay Pacific Airways

Emirates

Etihad Airways

Eva Air

Finnair

Hawaiian Airlines

Japan Airlines

KLM

Lufthansa

Scandinavian Airline System

Singapore Airlines

Swiss

United Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Australia
 
Among the World’s 10 Safest Low-Cost Carriers are:

Aer Lingus

Flybe

HK Express

Jetblue

Jetstar Australia

Thomas Cook

TUI Fly

Virgin America

Volaris

Westjet

These ratings are based on a range of factors related to audits from aviation’s governing bodies and lead associations as well as government audits and the airline’s fatality record.

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