Global air traffic is expected to surge in 2026, with passenger numbers projected to reach 5.2 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2026 Global Outlook for Air Transport.

As aviation enters another busy year—driven by strong post-pandemic growth and a renewed focus on safety following several widely reported air incidents last year—the question of which airlines are the safest in the world has gained greater importance.

On Tuesday, aviation safety and product rating website AirlineRatings.com released its annual list of the world’s safest airlines for 2026. The rankings evaluated 320 airlines globally, identifying the top 25 safest full-service carriers and the top 25 safest low-cost airlines.

Etihad Airways emerged as the world’s safest airline for 2026, becoming the first Gulf carrier to top the list. Cathay Pacific secured second place, followed by Qantas — last year’s winner — Qatar Airways, and Emirates, rounding out the top five.

The 2026 rankings also reflect notable changes. Air New Zealand, which topped the list in 2025, slipped five positions to sixth place this year. Meanwhile, ANA (All Nippon Airways) dropped from eighth to 14th, falling out of the top 10.

Commenting on the results, AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said the gap between top-ranked airlines has narrowed significantly. “Less than four points separated positions one through 14, and at the very top, just 1.3 points separated the first six airlines in the full-service category,” she said. Petersen added that all airlines in the top 25 are global leaders in aviation safety and that ranking differences should not be overstated.

The rankings are based on consistent criteria used each year, including incident rates adjusted for total flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training standards, and international safety audits, Petersen noted.