Ever wondered about your safety while flying or how safe the airline you travel with is? Thanks to a recent report released by the Air Transport Rating Agency (ATRA), you no longer have to wonder. They have done all the hard work and created a list of the top 10 safest airlines in the world. And you may or may not be surprised to learn there were no Australian airlines featured on the list (hint: Qantas).
According to ATRA’s report the safest airlines in the world come from Europe, Britain, Asia and the US. To determine the top 10 ATRA looked at all the information available about the 100 largest airlines in the world.
Factors such as the age of the aircraft, the type of aircraft, accident figures, technical elements, pilot training, and organisational and human factors in regards to maintenance of the aircraft where examined and compared to a list of 15 criteria. From there the top 10 safest airlines in the world were determined.
Let’s take a closer look at the top 10, listed below in alphabetical order and see why they made the list.
Air France – KLM
The largest airline in the world in regards to operating revenue, Air France-KLM is the result of a merger between Air France and KLM of the Netherlands in 2004. The airline has a fleet of 625 aircraft, including 25 cargo planes and features Boeing 747’s, Boeing 777’s, Airbus 330 and Airbus 321.
AMR Corporation (American Airlines, American Eagles)
Founded in 1930, the AMR Corporation started life as American Airlines before a stockholders meeting in 1982 determined a new arm of the corporate should be established to act as a parent company for American Airlines. While this decision hasn’t affected the day-to-day running of either American Airlines or American Eagles, it does provide both with a source of funding that would otherwise not be available. One of the largest airlines in the world, American Airlines contributes over $100 billion to both the US and international economies each year.
British Airways
The largest airline in the UK based on fleet size and international travel, British Airways is based at London’s Heathrow Airport and was established in 1971. A long time Boeing customer, British Airways not only owns numerous Boeing aircraft but also a number of Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Continental Airlines
Founded in 1934 as Varney Speed Lines, the airline become known as Continental Airlines in 1937 after Robert F. Six bought a 40% share in the company the year before. In 2010, Continental Airlines announced a merger with United Airlines with its head office to be based in Chicago. The airline travels to 132 international destinations.
Delta Airlines
One of America’s major airlines, Delta Airlines is based in Atlanta and flies to all continents except for Antarctica. With its headquarters locates at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta operates over 4000 flights a day to various destinations around the world and employs around 80,000 people.
Japan Airlines
With its main headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Airlines is the main airline of Japan and was founded in 1951. Japan Airlines became the sixth largest airline in the world in 2002 (based on the number of passengers carried) after it merged with Japan Air System.
Lufthansa
The primary airline of Germany, Lufthansa is the largest European airline based on the number of passengers carried, and the fourth largest in the world. Travelling to 201 international destinations in 78 countries, Lufthansa employs over 117,000 people and is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance.
Southwest Airlines
With more than 3,400 flights a day and a fleet of 552 aircraft, Southwest Airlines is America’s largest airline (based on the number of passengers carried). Based in Dallas, Texas, Southwest Airlines started its passenger service in 1971 and over times has acquired four other airlines to grow to the airline it is today. Southwest focuses on providing a quality domestic service and current flies to 72 destinations within 37 states in America.
United Airlines
Employing more than 48,000 people and with a fleet of 359 aircraft, United Airlines is one of the largest airlines in America. A founding member of Star Alliance, United Airlines flies to over 1000 destinations in 17o countries, and in 2010, United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines.
US Airways
Based in Arizona, US Airways is the sixth biggest airline (per traffic) and the eighth biggest airline (per market value) in America. Travelling to 200 destinations with over 3100 flights per day, US Airways with America West Airlines in 2005 and can trace its origins back to All American Aviation Inc which was founded by the du Point family.
Thanks to modern technology and high safety standards, these airlines have significantly reduced the risk of personal injury while travelling. In fact, air travel has become so safe that for every 1 billion passenger kilometres travelled, only .05 deaths occur. Compare .05 deaths per billion kilometres of travel in the air to 3.1 deaths in the car – or 54.2 on foot – and you’ll see that one of the safest places you can be is up in the clouds.