Airline Safety Rankings: Assessing PIA’s Position Among the Top 25
AirlineRatings.com, a platform specializing in evaluating airline safety and product quality, has unveiled its latest assessment of the 25 most secure airlines globally, closely following the recent Japan Airlines incident in Tokyo. In Pakistan, there is curiosity about whether Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) managed to secure a position on this prestigious list.
Geoffrey Thomas, the editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com, shared insights with Forbes in an interview, stating, “This year we went for a top 25 because the margins were so small between these airlines.”
The website, employing a seven-star rating system, meticulously evaluates 385 airlines, considering factors such as serious incidents, recent fatal accidents, audits from aviation governing bodies, industry-leading safety initiatives, assessments of expert pilot training, and the average age of fleets.
Noteworthy exclusions from the safety assessment criteria include bird strikes, turbulence injuries, weather diversions, and lightning strikes.
In 2024, the website expanded its list to feature the top 25 largest and most renowned carriers. Air New Zealand reclaimed the leading position, a feat last achieved in 2022.
“Air New Zealand operates in some of the most challenging weather environments which test pilot skills,” remarked Thomas. He highlighted Wellington as one of the windiest airports globally, with Queenstown posing significant navigation challenges. Thomas emphasized that Air New Zealand remained committed to cutting-edge technology, describing its aircraft as “state of the art.”
Following closely behind, Qantas secured the second spot, having been the safest airline in 2023. Thomas noted that the safety margin between the top two airlines was minimal, with only 1.5 points separating Air New Zealand and Qantas. He mentioned that Qantas lost points due to the age of its fleet, a matter the Australian carrier plans to address in the current year. Additionally, the airline’s subsidiary, Jetstar, achieved recognition as the leading low-cost carrier.
