Recent high-profile aviation incidents have left many travellers questioning the safety of air travel as they book their next holiday. In response, the annual safety rankings from AirlineRatings.com for 2026 offer crucial insight, revealing a notable decline in the standings of several major UK airlines.
Recent Incidents Fuel Passenger Anxiety
Despite flying's strong safety record, a series of alarming events has captured public attention. In December, a Ryanair aircraft bound for Faro collided with a fuel truck at Edinburgh Airport, forcing a full evacuation of passengers. Just two months earlier, on October 3, another Ryanair flight from Pisa to Glasgow Prestwick issued a dramatic 'fuel Mayday', landing urgently in Manchester with reports it was within six minutes of running out of fuel.
These episodes have heightened concerns for millions of Britons currently booking trips in the January sales, who are seeking reassurance about their safety in the skies.
The 2026 Safety Rankings: A Mixed Picture for UK Airlines
Australian safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings.com has now released its much-anticipated list of the world's safest carriers for 2026. The analysis scrutinises 320 airlines, evaluating crash histories, serious incident records, audits from aviation authorities, fleet age, pilot training protocols, and safety initiatives.
In the top 25 safest full-service airlines, Etihad Airways clinched first place. It was followed by Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Emirates. The UK's flag carrier, British Airways, fell to 18th place, a drop from its 15th position in the previous year's rankings.
The picture for budget carriers also showed a downward trend for British operators. In the separate ranking of the top 25 safest low-cost airlines, EasyJet, TUI, Jet2, and Ryanair all featured within the top 20. However, each saw their position weaken.
Ryanair's fall was particularly sharp, plummeting from 3rd place last year to 18th for 2026. EasyJet slipped from 4th to 5th, while Jet2 moved down from 14th to 17th. The top spots in the low-cost category were taken by HK Express, Jetstar Australia, Scoot, Fly Dubai, and the EasyJet Group.
Expert Insight: A Focus on Turbulence and Reporting Culture
AirlineRatings' Editor-in-Chief, Sharon Petersen, highlighted a key shift in this year's assessment criteria. 'One change for this year is that we are placing a greater emphasis on turbulence prevention, as it remains the leading cause of in-flight injuries,' she stated.
Petersen also stressed the importance of a transparent safety culture, noting that an incident-free record can sometimes indicate poor reporting rather than perfect safety. 'Every airline that features in our 2026 lists has recorded incidents, from tail strikes to on-board fires and engine shutdowns,' she explained. 'Yet the actual incident rate per flight sits between 0.002 and 0.09 across our list, which is a true credit to the industry as a whole.'
She concluded by praising the role of skilled personnel, stating that inclusion in the Top 25 reflects not just operational excellence but 'the crucial role of skilled aircrew and robust safety practices' in preventing minor incidents from escalating.
For travellers, the rankings provide a vital, data-driven snapshot of airline safety as the industry continues to manage operational risks and maintain its impressive safety record amidst growing passenger numbers.
