Two major Singapore-based airlines, full-service flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, have secured top-ten positions in a comprehensive global safety assessment for 2026, reinforcing the Lion City’s reputation for aviation excellence. The annual analysis, conducted by the industry safety and product rating platform Airline Ratings, examined over 300 international carriers across key safety metrics, providing reassurance for travelers concerned about air travel security.
Evaluating Global Aviation Standards
The 2026 rankings assessed 320 airlines operating fleets of 25 aircraft or more, considering crucial factors like incident rates, fleet age, the scale and outcome of any fatalities, and strict adherence to international safety audits and protocols established by bodies such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Scoot Reaches Podium Among Budget Carriers
Scoot achieved a landmark third-place position globally among low-cost carriers (LCCs), making it the highest-ranked Southeast Asian airline in this competitive category. The budget airline placed just behind HK Express and Jetstar Australia. Its strong showing marks a return to the forefront of LCC safety rankings, having last appeared in 2023 when the top 25 safest LCCs were listed without specific numerical rankings. Just one other carrier from Southeast Asia, AirAsia Group, made the top-ten list, securing the tenth spot.
Top 10 Safest Low-Cost Airlines (2026)
The leaders in the budget sector for 2026 demonstrate a wide geographic spread of safety reliability:
- HK Express
- Jetstar Australia
- Scoot
- FlyDubai
- EasyJet Group
- Southwest Airlines
- AirBaltic
- Vietjet Air
- Wizz Air Group
- AirAsia Group
Singapore Airlines Maintains Full-Service Track Record
In the full-service category, Singapore Airlines clinched the seventh spot globally. This latest ranking extends SIA’s decade-long history of consistent recognition in safety assessments. Since 2014, SIA has been a perennial feature on the list, demonstrating robust safety governance. However, its 2025 assessment was notably impacted, resulting in its absence from that year’s list following the severe SQ321 turbulence incident in May 2024. For the 2026 list, SIA rebounded strongly.
The top ranks in the full-service segment went to Middle Eastern and Asian carriers. Etihad Airways was named the world’s safest airline for 2026, followed closely by Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
Top 10 Safest Full-Service Airlines (2026)
- Etihad Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Air New Zealand
- Singapore Airlines
- Eva Air
- Virgin Australia
- Korean Air
Context for Anxious Flyers
While media coverage often highlights singular incidents, authoritative data consistently confirms that air travel remains statistically the least dangerous mode of transport. The IATA’s 2024 Annual Safety Report highlighted an extremely low accident rate of just 1.13 per one million flights. Furthermore, the risk of a fatality associated with commercial air travel remains exceptionally small, demonstrating the robust nature of global aviation safety standards and continued industry investment in best practices. These safety rankings provide further granular evidence of the relative security travelers can expect across top-performing global airlines.