Air New Zealand Crowned World’s Safest Airline In 2023

The carrier was named the World’s Safest Airline for 2023, surpassing Australian airline Qantas.

A photo taken on Aug. 9, 2021 shows an Air New Zealand plane taking off from Auckland Airport in New Zealand, on Aug. 26, 2021. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Air New Zealand has earned the title of the world’s safest airline for 2023 by Airline Ratings, narrowly edging out Australian carrier Qantas by a narrow margin of 1.5 points.

The latter has held the top spot on the list for eight consecutive years from 2014 to 2021.

Virgin Australia also maintains its presence among the top carriers, this time coming in third.

For those mindful of their budget, the winner of the 20 safest low-cost airlines also came from Australia, with Jetstar securing the top spot this year.

AirlineRatings.com’s editor-in-chief, Geoffrey Thomas said that the margin was slim.

“The safety margins between these top 25 airlines are very small,” he stated.

“Between Air New Zealand and Qantas, there is only 1.5 points. It’s incredibly close.

“The site’s top 25 safest airlines are all standouts in the industry and are at the forefront of safety, innovation, and launching of new aircraft.”

Air New Zealand’s ascent to the top of the safety rankings underscores its commitment to rigorous safety protocols and the skills of its pilots, particularly in navigating challenging approaches at Wellington and Queenstown airports.

These airports, known for their challenging weather environments, require precision and expertise from the airline’s pilots.

The evaluation process conducted by AirlineRatings considers multiple factors, including safety protocols, landings and take-offs, serious incidents, fatal accidents, regular audits, profitability, safety initiatives, pilot training programs, and the age of the fleet.

Notably, events beyond the control of the airlines, such as bird strikes or weather diversions and lightning strikes, are not considered in the assessment.

Over 45 airlines were considered for the title of the safest in the world, including Virgin Australia, Emirates, Cathay Pacific Airways, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Air France, Air Canada Group, and United Airlines.

Reflecting on this accolade, Air New Zealand’s Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer, Captain David Morgan, expressed pride in the airline’s safety culture.

“Air New Zealand’s commitment to safety has been recognised [with] the airline named the World’s Safest Airline for 2024 by Airline Ratings,” he said.

“Safety is at the forefront of everything we do at Air New Zealand, and the safety of our customers and our people is always our biggest priority. We’re pleased to have this commitment to safety recognised through this award.”

Air New Zealand Flight Returns Mid-Air

Meanwhile, an Air New Zealand flight, travelling from Auckland to Canada, was returned to the terminal mid-air due to an issue with the spoilers.

The flight crew detected a problem with the spoilers on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner about 90 minutes into the journey, prompting a return to Auckland for a maintenance check.

Spoilers, located on the wings, assist in controlling the aircraft’s speed, including during descent.

The plane arrived safely in Vancouver with no further hiccups.

In 2024, at least five airlines will operate flights between the U.S. and New Zealand, including American Airlines, Air New Zealand, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Qantas.