Europe’s Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre has ranked Air New Zealand second behind Finnair in the annual JACDEC Safety Index that recognises safety in the aviation industry.
Cathay Pacific was ranked third in the survey, ahead of the two UAE airlines, Emirates and Etihad.
Virgin Australia filled ninth spot and Qantas was just outside the top 10 in 13th place.
JACDEC collects and analyses safety occurrences from airlines around the world.
The Safety Index ratings are calculated by comparing hull loss accidents and serious incidents suffered by airlines over the past 30 years to the revenue passenger kilometres they have performed over the same period.
Airlines are also measured against other international safety benchmarks.
No US airline made the top 20, Southwest Airlines coming in at No 21.
David Morgan, Air New Zealand chief flight operations and safety officer, says the JACDEC ranking "is testament to the airline’s dedication to maintaining a strong safety culture….and it’s very pleasing to have been recognised by an external agency".
The Safety Index Top Ten
1 Finnair
2 Air New Zealand
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Emirates
5 Etihad
6 Eva Air
7 Tap Portugal
8 Hainan Airlines
9 Virgin Australia
10 British Airways
Other rankings included Lufthansa (11), ANA (12), Qantas (13), Virgin Atlantic (15) Jetstar Airways (20), Qatar Airways (22), Air Asia (29), Singapore Airlines (30), Malaysia Airlines (35), China Southern Airlines (48), South African Airways (52), Thai Airways International (53), Air India (58) and China Airlines (60)
by Ian Jarrett
