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GLOBAL: AirlineRatings.com, a globally recognised authority on airline safety and product performance, has released its 2026 list of the world’s safest airlines, naming Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates as the world’s safest full-service airline and the first Gulf carrier to secure the top spot in the history of the rankings. The annual evaluation, published on 13 January 2026, assesses more than 320 global airlines using a comprehensive methodology that incorporates incident and accident rates adjusted for flight frequency, fleet age, pilot training, results from independent safety audits, and participation in turbulence prevention programmes. Etihad’s ascendancy to number one reflects a combination of factors, including a relatively young fleet, a crash-free operational history, advanced cockpit safety systems, and industry-leading turbulence management measures. According to AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen, the statistical differences among the top carriers are extremely narrow, underscoring that all airlines in the Top 25 are world leaders in safety performance. Alongside Etihad’s top ranking, Emirates secured the fifth spot among full‑service airlines globally, reinforcing the UAE’s strong presence in aviation safety. Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong secured second place on the full-service list, followed by Australia’s Qantas in third. Middle Eastern and regional giants Qatar Airways and Emirates also feature in the top five, highlighting the sustained strength of safety practices across major global carriers. Other notable full-service airlines in the top 25 include Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Virgin Australia and Korean Air, reflecting broad geographic representation among industry leaders. The Top 25 Full-Service Airlines For 2026 Etihad Airways Cathay Pacific Qantas Qatar Airways Emirates Air New Zealand Singapore Airlines EVA Air Virgin Australia Korean Air STARLUX Airlines Turkish Airlines Virgin Atlantic All Nippon Airways (ANA) Alaska Airlines TAP Air Portugal SAS Scandinavian Airlines British Airways Vietnam Airlines Iberia Lufthansa Air Canada Delta Air Lines American Airlines Fiji Airways In the low-cost airline category, HK Express of Hong Kong topped the rankings, followed by Jetstar Airways and Singapore’s Scoot. flydubai now reclassified as a full-service operation in upcoming reports placed fourth on the low-cost list. Other recognised carriers include easyJet Group, Southwest Airlines, airBaltic and AirAsia Group. The inclusion of Spring Airlines China marks the first appearance of a Chinese carrier in these global safety rankings, while established operators such as Volaris and WestJet Group maintain their positions in the extended list of 25. The Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines For 2026 HK Express Jetstar Airways Scoot flydubai (now considered full-service; future assessments will reflect this) easyJet Group Southwest Airlines airBaltic VietJet Air Wizz Air Group AirAsia Group TUI UK Vueling Norwegian JetBlue flynas Cebu Pacific Jet2 Ryanair (Ireland and UK) Spring Airlines (China) Transavia Group Eurowings Group Volaris WestJet Group GOL SKY Airline (Chile) A key update this year was a heightened emphasis on turbulence prevention, recognising that turbulence remains a leading cause of in-flight injuries. The evaluation now considers participation in the IATA Turbulence Aware programme and results from detailed onboard safety audits. Transparency in reporting and responsiveness to audit processes were also cited as critical factors. Petersen noted that the tight clustering of safety scores suggests that future editions of the rankings may move toward safety performance tiers rather than strict hierarchical lists, as the difference between top airlines becomes increasingly marginal. Independent reporting confirms the significance of this year’s results. Multiple media outlets highlighted Etihad’s achievement as historic and indicative of the UAE’s growing influence in global aviation safety. Emirates and other carriers from the region also featured prominently in the global rankings. The release of the 2026 list comes amid broader industry efforts to further enhance safety culture, risk management and operational consistency worldwide, building on decades of improvements that have made commercial aviation one of the safest modes of travel.

Etihad Named World’s Safest Full-Service Airline, HK Express Tops Low-Cost List For 2026

Aviation Today News Desk / January 14, 2026

AirlineRatings.com, a globally recognised authority on airline safety and product performance, has released its 2026 list of the world’s safest […]

New Delhi, India: India’s aviation industry is bracing for a difficult FY2026, with ICRA estimating sector-wide losses to climb to Rs 95–105 billion, almost double the Rs 55 billion loss expected in FY2025. Softening passenger growth, upcoming fleet inductions and ongoing global and domestic disruptions are set to pressure financial performance. Even so, ICRA has maintained a stable outlook for the year, supported by steady travel demand, though influenced by cross-border tensions, accident-related caution and tariff-linked challenges on the commercial side. Domestic passenger traffic in October 2025 reached 142.8 lakh, up 4.5% from October 2024 and 12.9% higher than September 2025. Capacity deployment grew 1.7% year-on-year to 99,816 departures, with passenger load factor rising to 84.7%, compared with 82.4% a year earlier. For April–October 2025, domestic traffic stood at 944.5 lakh, a 1.6% year-on-year increase. ICRA expects full-year FY2026 domestic travel to grow 4–6%, reaching 172–176 million passengers. International traffic carried by Indian airlines rose 5.8% year-on-year in September 2025, touching 28.3 lakh, though sequentially down by 5.7%. In H1 FY2026, international traffic reached 175.6 lakh, marking 9.1% growth. ICRA projects further expansion of 13–15% in FY2026. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) remains a key cost concern. ATF prices in November 2025 were 4.4% higher year-on-year and 0.8% higher month-on-month. FY2025 had seen average ATF prices fall to Rs 95,181 per KL, about 8% lower year-on-year, but recent months have reversed that relief. Fuel constitutes 30–40% of airline operating expenses, while 35–50% of major costs are dollar-linked. The rupee’s depreciation in Q2 FY2026 led to notable forex losses for several carriers, though most remain unrealised. Fleet shortages persist. Pratt & Whitney engine problems and broader supply-chain delays resulted in around 133 aircraft being grounded across various airlines by March 2025, representing 15–17% of total industry capacity. IndiGo had 70 aircraft grounded in March 2024 due to powder-metal contamination, which reduced to about 40 by September 2025. Go Airlines, hit by similar issues, eventually grounded half its fleet in FY2024 and suspended operations. These constraints have increased operating costs through replacement leases, poorer fuel efficiency and higher spot-rental rates. Despite strong PLFs and firmer yields, profitability remains limited. The industry’s interest coverage ratio is expected to remain at 1.5–1.7 times for FY2026. Large carriers benefit from parent backing, while others continue to face liquidity stress and stretched balance sheets. The DGCA has proposed new passenger-centric norms allowing customers to cancel or modify tickets within 48 hours of booking without charges, provided the travel date is beyond five days (domestic) or fifteen days (international). Refunds are to be processed within 21 working days.

Aviation Forecast

ICRA Warns Of Rs 105 Billion Loss For Indian Aviation In FY2026 Amid Slowing Growth

Aviation Today News Desk / November 21, 2025

New Delhi, India: India’s aviation industry is bracing for a difficult FY2026, with ICRA estimating sector-wide losses to climb to

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