<strong>Qantas: </strong>AirlineRatings.com says Qantas is the world's safest airline for 2017. It says the Aussie carrier, which has held the title for the past four 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 2017. It says the Aussie carrier, which has held the title for the past four 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.
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<strong>Air New Zealand: </strong>Air NZ was also named as AirlineRatings.com's airline of the year in its 2016 Airline Excellence Awards. The Kiwi flag carrier was praised for its "exceptional performance."
Air New Zealand: Air NZ was also named as AirlineRatings.com's airline of the year in its 2016 Airline Excellence Awards. The Kiwi flag carrier was praised for its "exceptional performance."
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<strong>Alaska Airlines: </strong>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.
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<strong>All Nippon Airways (ANA): </strong>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
<strong>British Airways: </strong>The UK flag carrier was missing from the previous list but has impressed the AirlineRatings.com editors with its performance over the past 12 months.
British Airways: The UK flag carrier was missing from the previous list but has impressed the AirlineRatings.com editors with its performance over the past 12 months.
Arthur Widak/Nupar Images via Getty Images
<strong>Cathay Pacific Airways: </strong>Another Asian carrier that is seldom far from the top of airline best-of roundups, Cathay regularly appears in AirlineRatings.com's top 20 list.
Cathay Pacific Airways: Another Asian carrier that is seldom far from the top of airline best-of roundups, Cathay regularly appears in AirlineRatings.com's top 20 list.
Boeing
<strong>Delta Air Lines:</strong> In April 2016 the Atlanta-based carrier announced orders for 37 new Airbus A321ceo airliners and 75 Bombardier CS100 airliners.
Delta Air Lines: In April 2016 the Atlanta-based carrier announced orders for 37 new Airbus A321ceo airliners and 75 Bombardier CS100 airliners.
Delta
<strong>Etihad Airways: </strong>UAE-based Etihad competes 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 competes 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
<strong>EVA Air: </strong>Taiwan's EVA Air's innovations in 2016 included the addition of a robot, known as Pepper, to its ground staff at Taipei Songshan Airport. Pepper's job is to welcome passengers.
EVA Air: Taiwan's EVA Air's innovations in 2016 included the addition of a robot, known as Pepper, to its ground staff at Taipei Songshan Airport. Pepper's job is to welcome passengers.
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<strong>Finnair: </strong>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
<strong>Hawaiian Airlines:</strong> Hawaiian Airlines launched way back in 1929 and is now the state's biggest and longest-serving airline.
Hawaiian Airlines: Hawaiian Airlines launched way back in 1929 and is now the state's biggest and longest-serving airline.
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<strong>Japan Airlines: </strong>One of two Japanese networks to make the list, Japan Airlines is the country's official flag carrier. It's headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
Japan Airlines: One of two Japanese networks to make the list, Japan Airlines is the country's official flag carrier. It's headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
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<strong>KLM:</strong> Dutch carrier KLM is the world's oldest airline, having been founded in 1919, and is viewed as among Europe's safest. The Amsterdam-based network handled 30 million passengers in 2016.
KLM: Dutch carrier KLM is the world's oldest airline, having been founded in 1919, and is viewed as among Europe's safest. The Amsterdam-based network handled 30 million passengers in 2016.
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<strong>Lufthansa:</strong> 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.
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<strong>Scandinavian Airline System (SAS):</strong> Swedish airline SAS serves 119 destinations in Europe, the US and Asia. In 2014/2015 it carried close to 30 million passengers.
Scandinavian Airline System (SAS): Swedish airline SAS serves 119 destinations in Europe, the US and Asia. In 2014/2015 it carried close to 30 million passengers.
Airbus
<strong>Singapore Airlines:</strong> Frequently applauded for the quality of its in-flight services, Singapore Airlines is another regular in AirlineRatings.com's annual safety list.
Singapore Airlines: Frequently applauded for the quality of its in-flight services, Singapore Airlines is another regular in AirlineRatings.com's annual safety list.
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<strong>Swiss:</strong> 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
<strong>United Airlines: </strong>Another regular on the top 20 list, United Airlines is one of four US carriers to make the grade. AirlineRatings.com monitors 425 carriers for safety.
United Airlines: Another regular on the top 20 list, United Airlines is one of four US carriers to make the grade. AirlineRatings.com monitors 425 carriers for safety.
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<strong>Virgin Atlantic:</strong> In 2016 British carrier Virgin Atlantic treated all passengers traveling on or between December 24 and December 26 to a complimentary three-course Christmas meal.
Virgin Atlantic: In 2016 British carrier Virgin Atlantic treated all passengers traveling on or between December 24 and December 26 to a complimentary three-course Christmas meal.
Boeing
<strong>Virgin Australia: </strong>AirlineRatings.com also examines airlines' operational histories, incident records and operational excellence. Virgin Australia, originally launched as a budget airline in 1999, makes the 2017 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 2017 top 20 list.
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