AirlineRatings has published a ranking of the world's safest airlines for 2026. Find out who made it to the top full-service and budget carriers, changes in positions, and safety assessment criteria

Legal advice on education abroad

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Despite the fact that air travel remains one of the safest ways to travel, some incidents in recent months have forced passengers to be more careful when choosing an airline. Among them are emergency landings, fuel shortages and incidents at airports, which were actively discussed in the media.

Against this background, the Australian analytical platform AirlineRatings.com has published an annual rating of the safest airlines in the world for 2026, which covers both full-service and low-cost carriers.

Studying is not only about choosing an institution, but also dozens of legal nuances: from preparing documents to protecting student rights. An education lawyer will help you understand the rules of admission, document processing, academic issues and conflicts with educational institutions - both in Ukraine and abroad.

Get professional advice and confidence in every decision related to education.

How was the rating formed?

AirlineRatings experts analyzed the activities of 320 airlines according to the following criteria:

- History of accidents and serious incidents;

- Results of audits by aviation regulators;

- Age and technical condition of the fleet;

- Training of pilots and crew;

- Safety initiatives;

- Corporate reporting culture;

- Measures to reduce turbulence risks.

In 2026, analysts for the first time paid increased attention to the prevention of injuries associated with turbulence, which remains the main cause of injuries on board.

TOP-25 safest full-service airlines (2026)

The leader of the long-haul carrier rating was Etihad Airways. The top five also includes:

- Etihad

- Cathay Pacific

- Qantas

- Qatar Airways

- Emirates

- Air New Zealand

- Singapore Airlines

- EVA Air

- Virgin Australia

- Korean Air

- Starlux

- Turkish Airlines

- Virgin Atlantic

- ANA

- Alaska Airlines

- TAP Portugal

- SAS

- British Airways

- Vietnam Airlines

- Iberia

- Lufthansa

- Air Canada

- Delta Air Lines

- American Airlines

- Fiji Airways

It is worth noting that British Airways has dropped from 15th to 18th place compared to last year.

The safest low-cost airlines in the world in 2026

In a separate ranking of budget carriers, the first positions were taken by Asian and Middle Eastern airlines:

- HK Express

- Jetstar Australia

- Scoot

- FlyDubai

- EasyJet Group

- Southwest

- airBaltic

- VietJet Air

- Wizz Air Group

- AirAsia Group

- TUI UK

- Vueling

- Norwegian

- JetBlue

- Flynas

- Cebu Pacific

- Jet2

- Ryanair (Ireland and Great Britain)

- Spring Airlines China

- Transavia

- Eurowings Group

- Volaris

- WestJet Group

- GOL

- SKY Airline (Chile)

At the same time, Ryanair, which in 2025 took 3rd place, fell immediately to 18th place in the new ranking. A decrease was also recorded in Jet2 and EasyJet, although they remain in the top 20.

What do the experts say?

Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings, emphasized that the mere fact of incidents does not mean a low level of safety:

“Incidents are a normal part of aviation operations. The professionalism of pilots and flight attendants plays a decisive role - it is they who determine whether a situation will develop into a serious event.”

She also noted that the complete absence of recorded incidents may indicate not perfect safety, but problems with reporting.

According to AirlineRatings, the actual level of serious incidents in the top 25 is from 0.002 to 0.09 per flight, which emphasizes the high safety standards of modern aviation.

Are you planning to study abroad and are as careful about safety as you are about choosing an airline? An education lawyer will accompany you at key stages:

- Selection of the country, educational institution and program;

- Preparation of documents and support for obtaining a student visa;

- Consultations on academic differences and student rights;

- Assistance in crisis or conflict situations in the educational environment.

Legal support is a way to minimize risks and focus on the main thing: quality education and a safe educational experience.

Let us remind you! One of the main points in planning a successful air trip is preparing hand luggage. We have already talked about the current rules of hand luggage, the list of prohibited items and the requirements of Ryanair, EasyJet and Jet2 to avoid delays and confiscations at the airport.

Photo - generated by Gemini