20 Safest Airlines in the World for 2024

In this article, we will take a look at the 20 safest airlines in the world for 2024. If you want to skip our discussion on the airline industry, you can go directly to the 5 Safest Airlines in the World for 2024.

The global airline industry is an integral part of the global economy as it facilitates international trade and tourism. Currently, more than 5,000 airlines have over 23,000 aircraft, serving over 41,000 airports worldwide, as per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Airlines are divided into three categories, namely traditional carriers, low-cost carriers, and cargo. Each category has its own target market and business model. Major players within the global airline industry include American Airlines Group (NASDAQ:AAL), Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), and United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL).

According to a recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the estimated revenue for the international airline industry in 2023 was $896 billion, with forecasted 2024 revenue being $964 billion. These figures translate into a year-on-year change of 21.7% and 7.6% for 2023 and 2024, respectively. The estimated profit margin for 2023 is 2.6%, while the 2024 forecasted profit margin for the airline industry is 2.7%. This profitability comes three years after the record net loss of approximately $140 billion in 2020 due to COVID-19. The main reason for a positive outlook in 2023 and 2024 is the resurgence of demand post-pandemic, resulting in a rise in both passenger and cargo transport. Except for Asia-Pacific, all regions are expected to reach or surpass pre-COVID levels in passenger traffic in 2024. However, as the pent-up demand from the pandemic decreases, the sharp growth in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) witnessed in 2022-2023 will also normalize in 2024. The airline industry is anticipated to experience a positive but relatively narrow profitability margin in 2024 due to normalized growth rates and rising expenses. However, this margin is notably slimmer compared to industries such as technology or oil and gas. The industry’s profitability is also quite vulnerable to uncertainties due to economic and geopolitical factors. These include high interest rates, the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East, supply-chain issues at aircraft manufacturers’ end, staff shortages, and the rising costs of compliance. The industry will have to navigate through the uncertainties caused by these factors for better financial health.

Alaska Airlines Incident Spurs Regulatory Action

The airline industry’s safety standards have been called into question following a few recent incidents. On January 12, the US aviation regulator announced an indefinite extension of the grounding of Boeing Co’s (NYSE:BA) 737 MAX 9 airplanes. This decision was made to conduct additional safety checks following an incident involving Alaska Airlines on January 5, where a cabin panel blew off during a flight. The two major US carriers utilizing the affected aircraft, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, canceled many flights in the past week following the grounding. FAA Administrator Whitaker shared that he views the issues with the MAX 9 as a manufacturing problem rather than a design flaw. Highlighting a history of production challenges at Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), he commented, “Whatever’s happening isn’t fixing the problem and requires an extensive review.”

Meanwhile, Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) expressed agreement with the decision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground the 737 Max 9 planes for inspection. The grounding has affected approximately 171 aircraft. Boeing has taken steps to provide instructions to airlines on how to conduct inspections on these planes. Following the Alaska Airlines incident, a domestic flight operated by Japan’s All Nippon Airways also had to return to its departure airport on January 14 after a crack was discovered on the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft while in midair. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) shares experienced a 2.2% decline in closing on Friday and have witnessed a nearly 12% drop since the incident on January 5. The company is already dealing with a financial crisis, having reported a net loss of $2.2 billion for the initial nine months of 2023. You can also check out the 10 Most Dangerous Airlines In The World here.

Fortunately, these incidents did not lead to any fatalities among the passengers. Over the last five years, there has been a notable decrease in the number of fatal accidents for both commercial and passenger airlines combined, dropping from 11 in 2013 to an annual average of seven. According to Aviation Safety, 2023 has been the second safest year for airlines on record, with only five fatal crashes reported, resulting in 105 deaths. Emirates and Finnair are amongst the safest airlines in the world for 2024. Better aircraft engineering, new technology, and more comprehensive training are among the factors that have helped improve airline safety over the years.

Our Methodology

To shortlist the 20 safest airlines in the world for 2024, we have referred to sources like Airlineratings and Airfleets.net. The rankings below take into account numerous factors, such as air crashes over the past ten years, serious incidents over the last two years, the status of industry or government audits, average fleet age, and staff training. Incidents such as bird strikes, weather diversions, and turbulence have not been considered, as airlines have little control over these incidents. We have provided airline audit status, the number of fatal air crashes, and the average fleet age of each airline for ease of comparison.

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20 Safest Airlines in the World for 2024

20. Japan Airlines

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 11.2 years

With no fatal accident since 1985, Japan Airlines has quite an effective safety system. In the recent incident involving Flight 516, all the passengers on board managed to escape unscathed. According to aviation experts and industry professionals, the successful outcome was due to the implementation of the crew’s extensive training and the cooperative behavior of passengers.

19. KLM

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 13.5 years

This French-Dutch carrier has an impressive safety record with no serious incidents since 1977 when the last fatal crash for the airline occurred. The airline is IOSA certified.

18. Lufthansa/Swiss Group

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 12.5 years

Lufthansa is a Germany-based leading airline. It has not witnessed any major or fatal air crashes in the last three decades. It is compliant with IOSA safety standards. Furthermore, it is regulated by Germany’s Federal Aviation Office, which has a good safety rating by ICAO.

17. TAP Air Portugal

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 8.9 years

TAP is the flag carrier of Portugal. The airline has not been involved in any air crash causing fatalities among the crew or passengers for more than 30 years. TAP Air Portugal has certifications from IOSA and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

16. Turkish Airlines

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 8.4 years

Experiencing no serious or fatal safety incidents in the last 2 decades, Turkish Airlines is another safe airline to fly with. Moreover, it follows all the safety standards of IOSA. The airline’s fleet is also quite modern, with a low average age of 8.4 years. Turkish Airlines is at the sixteenth position on our list of the 20 safest airlines in the world for 2024.

15. British Airways

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 13.5 years

British Airways has been operational since 1919. It has not been involved in any accident leading to fatalities among the crew and passengers since 1976. It has also passed IOSA’s benchmark for global safety management. The airline also complies with safety protocols set forth by ICAO and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

14. EVA Air

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 8.5 years

EVA Air is Taiwan’s second-largest airline. This Taiwanese airline boasts a spotless record with no fatal accidents or hull losses in its history. It operates a fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft with a relatively low average age. The airline has also met all the safety standards set forth by IOSA.

13. Singapore Airlines

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 8.5 years

Singapore Airlines is in the thirteenth position on our list of the 20 safest airlines in the world. It hasn’t had a fatal crash since 2000. Singapore Airlines employs advanced technology to ensure the safety of its crew and passengers. The airline is fully compliant with safety protocols set forth by IOSA.

12. Korean Air

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 11.1 years

Korean Air has not witnessed a fatal safety incident since 1999. Although its safety record is not spotless, Korean Air has shown significant improvement by taking different steps to enhance the safety of its crew and passengers. It has also passed the IOSA safety audit.

11. SAS

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 9 years

Scandinavian Airlines, or SAS, is a reliable international airline known for adhering to high safety standards. The airline complies with all the safety protocols of IOSA. Moreover, it operates a modern fleet fitted with advanced safety systems. It has, therefore, not witnessed a fatal incident for more than a decade. Scandinavian Airlines is at the eleventh position on our list of the 20 safest airlines in the world for 2024.

10. Alaska Airlines

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 9.9 years

Alaska Airlines is in the news currently for a recent incident involving Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft that experienced a midair emergency, leading to an unscheduled landing in Portland, United States. The emergency situation arose when a cabin panel blew off during the flight. However, the airline has not had a single major crash in the past two decades and has successfully passed the safety audit of IOSA. The last fatal crash of Alaska Airlines was in 2000.

9. Cathay Pacific Airways

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 10 years

Cathay Pacific Airways has secured the ninth position on our list of the 20 safest airlines in the world for 2024. With a history of more than 75 years in the airline industry, Cathay Pacific Airways is known for its safety as well as top-notch service. This Hong Kong-based airline has experienced 12 major accidents and 0 incidents of hull losses since its founding in 1946. Its most recent air crash occurred in 1972. The airline has also passed the IOSA safety audit, which confirms its compliance with the mandatory safety requirements.

8. Finnair

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 12.3 years

Finnair is the flag carrier of Finland. Founded more than a century ago, it is one of the oldest airlines in the world. It has a vast network of both domestic and international flights. The airline has not witnessed any fatal accidents or hull loss incidents since 1968. The airline’s pilot training and maintenance programs are very extensive. It also complies with all the safety requirements of IOSA and has passed its safety audit.

7. All Nippon Airways

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 9.2 years

All Nippon Airways is a Japanese IOSA-certified airline. It has consistently been ranked among the safest airlines in the world. The airline has not been involved in any serious or fatal accidents since 1971. Moreover, All Nippon Airways operates a modern fleet with an average age of 9.2, which is typical for such a large international airline.

6. Emirates

Number of Fatal Crashes in the Last 10 Years: 0

IOSA Safety Audit Status: Passed

Airline Fleet Age: 9.7 years

Emirates was founded in 1985 and has become one of the major players in the global airline industry over the years. It has an extensive network of multiple flight routes all over the world. Furthermore, Emirates has a stellar safety record, with only one serious accident till now involving one death. The airline utilizes advanced technology, comprehensive training programs, and regular maintenance checks of its aircraft to ensure safety.

In addition to Emirates, a few of the major players within the global airline industry include American Airlines Group (NASDAQ:AAL), Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), and United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL).