Qantas has something to smile about at the start of a new year following a harrowing time in 2022.
The Aussie flag carrier has reclaimed the title of the world's safest airline for 2023 in a survey of more than 380 airlines.
The national carrier regained top spot after dropping to seventh
place last year following a series of cancellations and baggage issues.
Qantas suffered so much disruption last year that consumer magazine
Choice gave it one of its Shonky Awards and said the airline that
embodied the Spirt of Australia has become the “Spirit of
Disappointment”.
Qantas has only lost its top spot among the world’s safest airlines twice since the Australia-based AirlineRatings.com launched in 2013.
The safest airlines to fly in 2023, according to AirlineRatings, are:
Qantas, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore
Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Emirates, Alaska Airlines, EVA Air, Virgin
Australia/Atlantic, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, SAS,
United Airlines, Lufthansa/Swiss Group, Finnair, British Airways, KLM,
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
AirlineRatings said these airlines were standouts in the industry
“and are at the forefront of safety, innovation, and launching of new
aircraft”.
“In fact, the margins between these top 20 airlines are very small,
they are all outstanding airlines,” said editor-in-chief, Geoffrey
Thomas.
AirlineRatings said the list was created by analysing crashes over
five years, serious incidents over two years, audits from aviation’s
governing bodies and lead associations, fleet age, expert analysis of
pilot training, and Covid protocols.