Which Asian Carrier Ranks 3rd Safest Low-Cost Airline in 2026?
Key Points
- 1Scoot secured 3rd place in the 2026 World’s Safest Low-Cost Airlines ranking by AirlineRatings.com, following HK Express (1st) and Jetstar Australia (2nd).
- 2Singapore Airlines (SIA) was ranked 7th among World’s Safest Full-Service Airlines, with Etihad Airways taking the top spot.
- 3The rankings are based on criteria including incident rates, fleet age, IATA/ICAO audits, and airline transparency, with top airlines separated by marginal differences.
- 4Global air travel remains statistically safe, with the IATA 2024 Annual Safety Report showing an all-accident rate of 1.13 per million flights.
Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), has been named the world’s third safest low-cost airline for 2026. The ranking was released by AirlineRatings.com, a respected airline safety and product rating website. This marks a strong return to the ranked list for the Singapore-based carrier. Scoot last appeared on the list in 2023, where the top 25 low-cost carriers were unranked.
SIA also secured a top spot in the full-service category. The national carrier was ranked 7th among the World’s Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2026. This highlights the strong safety focus across the entire SIA Group.
Low-Cost Carrier Performance
Hong Kong budget carrier HK Express topped the 2026 low-cost list. It was followed closely by Jetstar Australia in second place. Scoot’s third-place finish confirms its position as a leading safe budget option. The ranking assessed 320 airlines globally for the 2026 report. Airlines operating fewer than 25 aircraft were excluded from consideration.
Full-Service Airline Standings
United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways was named the World’s Safest Full-Service Airline. SIA has consistently ranked highly in this category since 2014. The airline placed 13th in 2024, 5th in 2023, and 4th in 2022. SIA missed the list only in 2025 due to an impact on its safety assessment scores, according to the source.
Assessment Criteria
AirlineRatings.com uses a wide range of criteria for its annual assessment. These include the airline's rate of flight incidents and fatalities. Fleet age and fleet size are also key factors. Compliance with international audits and standards is critical. These standards are set by globally recognised bodies like the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Ms. Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings.com, noted the importance of transparency. She explained that airlines engaging with the team allow for a more accurate review. The team also conducts independent in-flight safety audits. They consult with aviation experts and check pilots.
Serious incidents are assessed using multiple data sources. Airlines are not penalised for issues outside their control. This includes acts of God, air traffic control errors, or conflict zones.
Continuous Improvement in Global Safety
Statistically, air travel remains the safest mode of travel. The IATA 2024 Annual Safety Report was released in February 2025. It found the all-accident rate was 1.13 per million flights. The fatality risk remained low at 0.06 per million flights.
IATA reported a total of 40.6 million flights in 2024. There were seven fatal accidents that year. IATA Director General Willie Walsh stated that accidents are extremely rare. He emphasized that aviation safety is a story of continuous improvement.
- The all-accident rate of 1.13 per million flights was better than the five-year average of 1.25.
- The fatality risk of 0.06 was below the five-year average of 0.10.
- Common accident types in 2024 included tail strikes and turbulence-related events.
Ms. Petersen highlighted that the top 25 airlines are separated by marginal differences. She suggests that rankings may become misleading soon. Grouping top airlines into performance tiers may better reflect reality. The closeness in scores is a positive development for both the industry and travellers. For more commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.
Scoot is committed to maintaining its high safety standards.
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