World’s safest airlines named by new website
Virgin Atlantic is the only UK airline to be given a perfect score of seven out of seven for both safety and product in a new ratings site for 425 carriers around the world.
British Airways and BMI Regional also achieved a top safety rating, but BA received only six out of seven stars for product while BMI was granted just four.
And readers might be surprised to learn that easyJet and Ryanair were rated exactly the same – both were awarded five stars for safety and 2.5 stars out of a maximum of five for product. Only full service airlines were able to achieve seven stars for product.
The ratings site, airlineratings.com, was developed by Australian aviation editor and author Geoffrey Thomas, together with a team of other aviation editors. Thomas claimed they had "forensically" researched airlines over the past two years.
He said the safety rating system took into account various factors relating to audits from aviation’s government bodies and lead associations as well as government audits and the airlines’ fatality records. He didn’t explain the criteria used to judge product.
In total, 11 airlines gained seven stars for both safety and product – these were Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air from Taiwan, Korean Air, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian and Singapore Airlines – as well as Virgin Atlantic.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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