The Australian carrier was praised for its “extraordinary fatality-free record in the jet era”, while Virgin Atlantic was the only UK airline to make it into the top 20.In a separate ranking for low-cost airlines, two British carriers featured – Flybe and Thomas Cook. The lists (see below for a full breakdown) were compiled by AirlineRatings.com, an independent plane safety and product rating website.the International Air Transport Association (IATA), if it is on the EU’s airline blacklist, its crash record and whether the fleet has been grounded over safety concerns. A star is removed if the airline operates only Russian-made aircraft. British Airways was one of the 148 airlines awarded the maximum seven-star safety rating, something only given to non-budget carriers, although it did not make it into AirlineRating.com’sk of the 20 safest airlines. In deciding which make the top 20, judges at AirlineRatings.com also compared each airline’s history of incidents and operational excellence. Along with Qantas, other airlines to make the top 20 included Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. “Our top 20 safest airlines are always at the forefront of safety innovation, operational excellence and the launching of new more advanced aircraft,” said Geoffrey Thomas, AirlineRatings.com editor. “These airlines are always at the forefront for excellence in the safety space,” he added. “However there is no question amongst the editors that Qantas remains a standout in safety enhancements and best practice.” -
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