Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has been named the world’s safest full-service airline for 2026, becoming the first Gulf airline to top AirlineRatings.com’s annual list.
The airline’s reasons for receiving the honor include its young fleet, advancements in cockpit safety, the airline’s accident-free history and having the lowest single-flight accident rate among the airlines listed, according to Airline Ratings. To develop the list, the company reviewed a range of factors such as the total number of flights, age of the fleet, number of serious accidents, pilot training, international safety audits and turbulence prevention.
“Overall, it’s worth noting that every airline on the 2026 list has recorded incidents over the past two years, ranging from tail strikes to onboard fires and engine shutdowns, but each airline’s actual incident rate per flight is between 0.002 and 0.09, which is a real honor for the entire industry,” Airline Ratings CEO Sharon Petersen said in a statement, adding, “All airlines in the top 25 are world leaders in aviation safety.”
Etihad Airways operates flights to several U.S. cities, including Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and plans to launch flights to Charlotte this year. The carrier was also named as one of the Travel + Leisure Readers’ favorite international airline of 2025, known for economy-class comfort and top-tier options like The Residence, a three-bedroom suite with a private bedroom, separate living area and ensuite shower room.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific ranked second, followed by Australian airline Qantas, Qatar Airways and Dubai-based airline Emirates, completing the top five. Air New Zealand, which ranked first last year, is ranked sixth this year.
Alaska Airlines is the highest-ranked U.S. airline at No. 15, Delta Air Lines is No. 23, and American Airlines is No. 24. Early last year, an American Airlines regional jet collided with a military helicopter in mid-air outside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), causing a serious accident.
When it comes to the safest low-cost airlines, HK Express ranks high. The airline is a member of the Cathay Pacific Group. Jetstar Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qantas Group, and Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, rounded out the top three. In the United States, Southwest ranks sixth globally in the low-cost category.
Flying can understandably make people nervous, but there are ways to overcome this fear, including understanding the root causes, learning simple breathing techniques, and even downloading the right app.
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