Air travel is the fastest way to reach distant destinations, but for passengers, safety remains the top priority. A new global ranking by AirlineRatings.com has revealed the Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2025based on an assessment of 385 airlines worldwide. While Air New Zealand secured the top position, popular Indian carrier IndiGo failed to make the safest list.
Air New Zealand Tops the Global Safety Rankings
Air New Zealand emerged as the world’s safest airline for 2025narrowly beating Qantas, which took second place. AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said the margin between the top two airlines was just 1.50 points.
She credited Air New Zealand’s younger and technologically advanced fleet as the key factor that pushed it ahead, along with its exceptional pilot training standards and consistent safety practices.
IndiGo Misses the Safest Airlines List
Despite being India’s largest airline by market share and daily operations, IndiGo did not feature among the Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2025. This has sparked discussions among frequent flyers, especially as the airline continues to face operational challenges, including recent disruptions, crew shortages, and flight cancellations.
While IndiGo remains a preferred low-cost carrier for millions due to affordability and network reach, its absence from the world’s safest list highlights the growing importance of fleet age, training quality, and incident history in global aviation rankings.
How Airline Safety Is Assessed
AirlineRatings.com evaluates airlines using multiple performance and safety benchmarks, including:
- Serious incidents over the last two years
- Pilot skill and training standards
- Fleet age, size, and maintenance
- Incident and fatality records
- Airline profitability
- IOSA certification
- ICAO audit results
These factors together determine an airline’s real-world safety performance.
Tough Competition for Third Position
The third position saw a three-way tie between Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Emirates. The rankings team said the airlines were inseparable due to identical scores across fleet quality, operational strength, safety practices, and pilot training.
What This Means for Passengers
For travelers, the 2025 rankings underline one clear fact: air safety is increasingly data-driven and performance-based. Airlines investing in modern aircraft, strict audits, and advanced crew training continue to gain global trust. For Indian flyers, IndiGo’s absence serves as a reminder that growth must go hand-in-hand with safety excellence.
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