These Are the Safest Airlines To Fly in 2026

Despite the fact that traveling by airplane is the safest mode of transportation out there, some travelers still, understandably, have a fear of flying. If you’re an anxious traveler, you might be curious to know which airlines have the best safety records (or even which section of the airplane could be considered the safest). The annual report from the aviation safety experts at AirlineRatings.com ranks global airlines on criteria such as fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training, and turbulence prevention. Here are the safest full-service airlines to fly in 2026, according to the study. 

10. Korean Air

The flag carrier of South Korea ranks as the world’s 10th-safest airline in 2026. From its main hub at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, Korean Air serves more than 100 destinations across the globe, including 11 U.S. cities. The carrier is currently renewing its fleet with modern, state-of-the-art aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. It’s also in the process of merging with rival Asiana Airlines; the latter airline is expected to be fully absorbed under Korean Air by the end of 2026.

9. Virgin Australia

You’ll have to head Down Under to find the next airline on the world’s safest airlines list. Established in 2000, Virgin Australia operates a fleet of more than 100 Boeing 737s across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, from its hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

8. EVA Air

Taiwan-based EVA Air is the eighth-safest airline in the world as of 2026. Since its founding in 1989, the airline has suffered no major accidents or passenger fatalities. The airline recently announced its 10th nonstop destination in North America; flights from Taipei to and from Washington, D.C., kick off this June. 

7. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines was named the overall No. 2 best airline in the world for 2025 in the Skytrax World Airline Awards, and the carrier also boasts a stellar safety record. Passengers flying on Singapore Airlines have the chance to visit the world’s best airport, Singapore Changi Airport, which has amenities you don’t normally find in an airport, such as the world’s highest indoor waterfall, a butterfly garden, a canopy park, and more.

6. Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand dropped to No. 6 from the top spot in the safest airlines ranking last year, but that doesn’t reflect any recent lapses in safety. Rather, as AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen explained in a press release, “What stands out this year is how little separates the leaders. Less than four points covered positions one through 14, and at the very top, the margins were even tighter, with just 1.3 points separating positions one through six in the full-service category.”

5. Emirates

Dubai-based Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of Airbus A380 jumbo jets, which is the world’s largest passenger aircraft and has never experienced a major crash since entering service in 2007. Emirates has a large connecting hub in Dubai, which you can explore on a free stopover.

4. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways flies to over a dozen U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco, from its Middle East hub in Doha. The airport ranks as the No. 2 best airport in the world, according to Skytrax; it’s home to amenities like an massive indoor tropical garden called the Orchard and some of the world’s swankiest airline lounges.

3. Qantas

Qantas is not only one of the world’s safest airlines but also one of the oldest, having first flown in 1920. To the U.S., the Australian flag carrier operates long-haul flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It also offers one-stop service to New York via Auckland, which takes 17 hours and 30 minutes and ranks as one of the world’s longest flights. The airline could soon take the crown for the single longest flight, as it aims to connect Australia and New York nonstop with new ultra-long-haul planes by 2027. 

2. Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways, the flag carrier of Hong Kong, ranks as the world’s second-safest airline for 2026. The airline operates nonstop flights to six U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and New York, aboard a fleet of modern Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft. In 2026, the airline is celebrating its 80th anniversary since its first flight in 1946. 

1. Etihad Airways

Another Middle East carrier lands on top of the list of the world’s safest airlines: Etihad Airways, which hasn’t had a single major incident since starting flights in 2003. The airline is based at Abu Dhabi’s stunning Zayed International Airport, offering connections from Europe and North America to destinations throughout the Middle East, India, and Asia.

About the data: To compile this list, we referenced the “World’s Safest Airline Rankings for 2026” from airline safety and product rating website AirlineRatings.com. The report analyzed 320 airlines worldwide on criteria such as incident rates adjusted for the total number of flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training, turbulence prevention, and international safety audits. The airlines above fall in the “full service” category, but the report also listed low-cost airlines separately. You can view the full study here.