AirlineRatings.com, a safety review site for the airline industry, officially released its annual ratings, showing travelers which companies will keep them safest in the skies. For 2022, it’s Air New Zealand that tops this coveted list of the world’s safest airlines.
The site considers several factors when creating its annual rankings, with pandemic-era protocol and health policies playing a significant role in this year’s evaluations.
“Air New Zealand is a standout airline focusing firmly on safety and its customers, and over the past 18 months, COVID-19 has brought another new dimension to the challenges the industry faces,” the website’s editor said when revealing the list of World’s Safest Airlines for 2022. “Air New Zealand has excelled across the broad safety spectrum, never losing sight of the smallest detail while caring for its flight crews who have worked under significant stress.”
Air New Zealand was also the first airline in the world to require vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test for domestic passengers. On Feb. 1, the airline will take things a step further by requiring all international passengers also to be vaccinated.
“The Air New Zealand promise is to take manaaki (care) further. To do that, we have to take our approach to safety further. For us, it’s not about safety first—it’s about safety always. We want everyone to go home safely every day,” Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said in a statement shared by AirlineRatings.com.
An Australian carrier that often tops the AirlinesRatings.com list, Qantas lost its number one spot because of a near collision on an airport runway in Perth.
Beyond COVID-related protocol, AirlineRating.com’s annual list examines data from 385 airlines, including several factors such as crash records, safety programs, and results of government and industry safety audits. Though Air New Zealand took top honors, it’s important to note that all 20 airlines on the list are exceptionally safe and constantly innovating to enhance both safety and customer experience.
Here’s the complete list of the Top 20 World’s Safest Airlines:
Air New Zealand
Etihad Airways
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
TAP Air Portugal
SAS
Qantas
Alaska Airlines
EVA Air
Virgin Australia/Atlantic
Cathay Pacific Airways
Hawaiian Airlines
American Airlines
Lufthansa/Swiss Group
Finnair
Air France/KLM Group
British Airways
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
Emirates
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.