Overview
- HK Express tops the low-cost list, with Jetstar Australia second and Scoot third, according to AirlineRatings.com.
- Etihad leads the full-service top 25, followed by Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Emirates.
- Singapore Airlines ranks seventh among full-service carriers after missing the 2025 list due to the SQ321 turbulence incident’s impact on its scores.
- The 2026 assessment reviewed 320 airlines and excluded fleets under 25 aircraft, weighing incident history, fleet age and size, fatalities, audit compliance and openness with auditors.
- AirlineRatings.com notes very small score gaps among leaders and added greater emphasis on turbulence prevention, as broader IATA data shows accident and fatality risk remain very low.