• Hawaiian Airlines. One of few US airlines to offer complimentary meal service on flights between the mainland and Hawaii. Ted S Warren / AP Photo
    Hawaiian Airlines. One of few US airlines to offer complimentary meal service on flights between the mainland and Hawaii. Ted S Warren / AP Photo
  • Virgin Australia. Australia’s other major airline is only distantly related to Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic in the UK. Although... Dan Peled / EPA
    Virgin Australia. Australia’s other major airline is only distantly related to Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic in the UK. Although... Dan Peled / EPA
  • Virgin Atlantic also got the nod for its safety. Sir Richard’s Virgin Holding has a majority stake in the airline, but only a 10 per cent stake in the Australian carrier it started. Andrew Matthews / PA via AP
    Virgin Atlantic also got the nod for its safety. Sir Richard’s Virgin Holding has a majority stake in the airline, but only a 10 per cent stake in the Australian carrier it started. Andrew Matthews / PA via AP
  • United Airlines, one of the major three carriers in the United States. Justin Sullivan / AFP
    United Airlines, one of the major three carriers in the United States. Justin Sullivan / AFP
  • Swiss International Air Lines. Airlineratings.com has given the carrier a seven-star safety rating out of seven. Steffen Schmidt / EPA
    Swiss International Air Lines. Airlineratings.com has given the carrier a seven-star safety rating out of seven. Steffen Schmidt / EPA
  • Japan Airline is Japan’s second-largest, but is its official flag carrier. Brian Snyder / Reuters
    Japan Airline is Japan’s second-largest, but is its official flag carrier. Brian Snyder / Reuters
  • KLM is the world’s oldest airline. Courtesy KLM
    KLM is the world’s oldest airline. Courtesy KLM
  • Lufthansa is one of Etihad’s codeshare partners. Jeff Topping / The National
    Lufthansa is one of Etihad’s codeshare partners. Jeff Topping / The National
  • SAS is based out of Denmark, and flies to more Northern European cities than any other airline. Johan Nilsson / EPA
    SAS is based out of Denmark, and flies to more Northern European cities than any other airline. Johan Nilsson / EPA
  • Singapore Airlines made the list even though one of its flights bound for Milan, Italy was forced to turn back soon after takeoff in June last year. One of the plane’s engines caught fire upon landing, but it was put out in minutes and no injuries or fatalities were reported. Wallace Woon / EPA
    Singapore Airlines made the list even though one of its flights bound for Milan, Italy was forced to turn back soon after takeoff in June last year. One of the plane’s engines caught fire upon landing, but it was put out in minutes and no injuries or fatalities were reported. Wallace Woon / EPA
  • Eva Air, based out of Taiwan, does not have a single casualty or fatality on its record for its entire history. Sam Yeh / AFP
    Eva Air, based out of Taiwan, does not have a single casualty or fatality on its record for its entire history. Sam Yeh / AFP
  • Finnair flies the shortest route to Asia from its base in Helsinki. Jussi Nukari / AFP
    Finnair flies the shortest route to Asia from its base in Helsinki. Jussi Nukari / AFP
  • Air New Zealand was named Airline of the Year in 2010 and 2012 by Air Transport World. Stephen Brashear / AFP
    Air New Zealand was named Airline of the Year in 2010 and 2012 by Air Transport World. Stephen Brashear / AFP
  • Alaska Airlines has been rated as the No 1 airline in North America for on-time performance for the past three years. Elaine Thompson / AP Photo
    Alaska Airlines has been rated as the No 1 airline in North America for on-time performance for the past three years. Elaine Thompson / AP Photo
  • All Nippon Airways has the largest international network into and out of Japan. Yuya Shino / Reuters
    All Nippon Airways has the largest international network into and out of Japan. Yuya Shino / Reuters
  • British Airways makes its business-class passengers a full English breakfast on morning flights. Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
    British Airways makes its business-class passengers a full English breakfast on morning flights. Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
  • Cathay Pacific won the airlineratings.com Best Business Class award for 2014. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
    Cathay Pacific won the airlineratings.com Best Business Class award for 2014. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
  • Delta Airlines was the second major US carrier to make the list. Paul Sancya / AP Photo
    Delta Airlines was the second major US carrier to make the list. Paul Sancya / AP Photo
  • And finally, Etihad Airways made the safety list – the only Middle Eastern carrier in the top 20. Courtesy Etihad Airways
    And finally, Etihad Airways made the safety list – the only Middle Eastern carrier in the top 20. Courtesy Etihad Airways

Business

The world’s safest airlines in 2017 – in pictures

The National staff

January 05, 2017

  • English
  • Arabic

For the fourth year in a row, Qantas has been named the world’s safest airline by the safety and product rating site airlineratings.com. It lists the others in the top 20 in alphabetical order. See which UAE airline made the cut.

Technology