AirlineRatings.com says Qantas is the world's safest airline for 2016. It says the Aussie carrier, which has held the title for the past three years, has an "extraordinary record" with no recorded fatalities since the advent of jet travel. Click through the gallery to see if your next flight makes AirlineRatings.com's top 20 safest list.
Qantas —
AirlineRatings.com says Qantas is the world's safest airline for 2016. It says the Aussie carrier, which has held the title for the past three years, has an "extraordinary record" with no recorded fatalities since the advent of jet travel. Click through the gallery to see if your next flight makes AirlineRatings.com's top 20 safest list.
Courtesy Qantas
One of the world's largest airlines, AA is one of three U.S. carriers to earn AirlineRatings.com's full seven-star safety record.
American Airlines —
One of the world's largest airlines, AA is one of three U.S. carriers to earn AirlineRatings.com's full seven-star safety record.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Dutch carrier KLM is the world's oldest airline, having been founded in 1919, and is viewed as among Europe's safest. Its Amsterdam-based network handles 20 million passengers every year.
KLM —
Dutch carrier KLM is the world's oldest airline, having been founded in 1919, and is viewed as among Europe's safest. Its Amsterdam-based network handles 20 million passengers every year.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Frequently applauded for the quality of its in-flight services, Singapore Airlines is also regularly featured in AirlineRatings.com's annual safety list.
Singapore Airlines —
Frequently applauded for the quality of its in-flight services, Singapore Airlines is also regularly featured in AirlineRatings.com's annual safety list.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Air NZ was also named as AirlineRatings.com's airline of the year in its 2015 Airline Excellence Awards. The Kiwi flag carrier was praised as an "industry trendsetter."
Air New Zealand —
Air NZ was also named as AirlineRatings.com's airline of the year in its 2015 Airline Excellence Awards. The Kiwi flag carrier was praised as an "industry trendsetter."
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Taiwan's EVA Air also grabs a seven-star award. AirlineRatings.com's rating system takes into account audits from aviation's governing bodies and lead associations as well as government audits and the airlines' fatality records.
EVA Air —
Taiwan's EVA Air also grabs a seven-star award. AirlineRatings.com's rating system takes into account audits from aviation's governing bodies and lead associations as well as government audits and the airlines' fatality records.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
AirlineRatings.com also examines airlines' operational histories, incident records and operational excellence. Virgin Australia, originally launched as a budget airline in 1999, makes the 2016 top 20 list.
Virgin Australia —
AirlineRatings.com also examines airlines' operational histories, incident records and operational excellence. Virgin Australia, originally launched as a budget airline in 1999, makes the 2016 top 20 list.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Another regular on the top 20 list, United Airlines is one of four U.S. carriers to make the grade. AirlineRatings.com monitors 407 carriers for safety.
United Airlines —
Another regular on the top 20 list, United Airlines is one of four U.S. carriers to make the grade. AirlineRatings.com monitors 407 carriers for safety.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
As well as being recognized as one of the world's safest airlines, Emirates offers highly acclaimed in-flight service, especially for its premium passengers. It was the first airline to offer on-board showers in first class on the A380.
Emirates —
As well as being recognized as one of the world's safest airlines, Emirates offers highly acclaimed in-flight service, especially for its premium passengers. It was the first airline to offer on-board showers in first class on the A380.
Boeing
Lufthansa is another regular on the top 20 list. The German carrier is the largest airline in Europe, just ahead of Irish operator Ryanair.
Lufthansa —
Lufthansa is another regular on the top 20 list. The German carrier is the largest airline in Europe, just ahead of Irish operator Ryanair.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
One of two Japanese networks to make the list, Japan Airlines is the country's second largest, but is its official flag carrier.
Japan Airlines —
One of two Japanese networks to make the list, Japan Airlines is the country's second largest, but is its official flag carrier.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Japan's largest airline made a splash in 2015 when it decorated some of its passenger jets with "Star Wars" imagery, including this R2-D2-themed aircraft.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) —
Japan's largest airline made a splash in 2015 when it decorated some of its passenger jets with "Star Wars" imagery, including this R2-D2-themed aircraft.
Courtesy Sydney Airport
As well as a seven-star safety rating, Hawaiian Airlines has won praise for the best in-flight offering for economy passengers on flights between the United States and Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines —
As well as a seven-star safety rating, Hawaiian Airlines has won praise for the best in-flight offering for economy passengers on flights between the United States and Hawaii.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
UAE-based Etihad is another carrier competing for custom at the very high end of the air travel market. In addition to its standard class services, Etihad offers in-flight concierge services, allowing passengers to shop for diamonds or artworks at 30,000 feet.
Etihad Airways —
UAE-based Etihad is another carrier competing for custom at the very high end of the air travel market. In addition to its standard class services, Etihad offers in-flight concierge services, allowing passengers to shop for diamonds or artworks at 30,000 feet.
Airbus
British carrier Virgin Atlantic is another carrier to grab full marks for both safety and its in-flight offerings from AirlineRatings.com.
Virgin Atlantic —
British carrier Virgin Atlantic is another carrier to grab full marks for both safety and its in-flight offerings from AirlineRatings.com.
Boeing
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines not only rates highly for safety, but is also one of the few airlines to have Wi-Fi across most of its fleet, according to AirlineRatings.com.
Alaska Airlines —
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines not only rates highly for safety, but is also one of the few airlines to have Wi-Fi across most of its fleet, according to AirlineRatings.com.
VortexAviationPhotography.com
Another Asian carrier that is seldom far from the top of airline best-of lists, Cathay regularly appears in AirlineRatings.com's top 20 list. In 2014, Cathay scooped top prize in the Skytrax world's best airline awards.
Cathay Pacific Airways —
Another Asian carrier that is seldom far from the top of airline best-of lists, Cathay regularly appears in AirlineRatings.com's top 20 list. In 2014, Cathay scooped top prize in the Skytrax world's best airline awards.
Boeing
Finnair doesn't skimp on safety, although some passengers can skimp on clothing thanks to the<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F06%2F23%2Ftravel%2Ffinland-sauna-aiport-lounge%2F"> unisex sauna </a>it introduced in its premium lounge in Helsinki Airport in 2014.
Finnair —
Finnair doesn't skimp on safety, although some passengers can skimp on clothing thanks to the unisex sauna it introduced in its premium lounge in Helsinki Airport in 2014.
Airbus
Swedish airline SAS has been named as one of the world's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F01%2F08%2Ftravel%2Fmost-punctual-airports-and-airlines%2F">most punctual carriers</a>, as well as one of the safest.
Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) —
Swedish airline SAS has been named as one of the world's most punctual carriers, as well as one of the safest.
Airbus
Safety is something passengers might take for granted from Swiss. The airline has suffered no major disasters since rebranding from Crossair in 2002.
Swiss —
Safety is something passengers might take for granted from Swiss. The airline has suffered no major disasters since rebranding from Crossair in 2002.
Airbus