These latest travel trends show where and how travelers plan to explore
Budget airlines offer a fantastic way for travelers to explore the world without breaking the bank, but safety is always paramount. Can you truly have a cheap flight and peace of mind? Airline Ratings, a renowned source for airline and flying information, crunched the numbers and ranked the world's safest low-cost carriers, proving that affordability doesn't have to compromise your safety.
Click through to see which budget airlines aced the safety test and get ready to pack your bags!
Airline Ratings evaluates a comprehensive list of airlines annually, meticulously assessing a range of factors that contribute to a robust safety record. It delivers expert safety ratings for more than 358 airlines around the world.
This rigorous evaluation process encompasses a thorough examination of recent incidents and past crash records, a critical review of safety audits conducted by the esteemed International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and a careful assessment of each airline's adherence to industry best practices.
Experts also scrutinize the European Union's list of banned carriers, ensuring that the evaluated airlines are not included. Finally, the age of the aircraft within each airline's fleet is considered, recognizing that newer aircraft often incorporate the latest safety features and technologies.
According to Sharon Petersen, CEO of Airline Ratings, even if an airline doesn't appear at the top, they all maintain an exceptional safety record, retaining their prestigious seven-star safety rating. However, minor incidents may have slightly impacted their ranking this year. Click on to see the top 25 safest low-cost airlines for 2025!
Making its debut on the list is airBaltic, the leading Latvian airline. Founded in 1995, airBaltic operates one of Europe's youngest fleets, comprised of 49 modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
As one of the few Latin American airlines to achieve this distinction, this Chilean carrier boasts a strong safety record with no major accidents in the past decade. Operating throughout South America, the Caribbean, and the United States, it stands as the second-largest airline in Chile, pioneering the low-cost model in the country.
This low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines prioritizes safety while offering budget-friendly fares. It uniquely differentiates itself by offering a basic business class option alongside economy.
The Philippine low-cost carrier once again secured its place on the list, earning praise for its strong safety record and its commitment to modernizing its fleet with the latest Airbus aircraft, including the cutting-edge A330-900s and A321XLRs.
The American carrier has recently experienced minor mechanical issues, resulting in aborted takeoffs and unscheduled landings. To enhance safety, the airline made a significant transition in 2024, modernizing its fleet with Airbus aircraft.
Established in the early 2000s, India's IndiGo has consistently ranked among the safest airlines since 2020. Operating one of the youngest fleets globally contributes significantly to its 7/7 safety rating.
While once a top 10 contender in 2021, the UAE's Air Arabia now ranks 18th. Despite this shift in position, the airline maintains an impeccable safety record, boasting zero major incidents throughout its history.
With its primary hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, JetBlue operates an extensive network, flying to over 100 destinations daily. Maintaining an impressive safety record, JetBlue has kept a spotless history with no fatal crashes since its inception.
This Canadian airline, founded in 1994, also made the list, maintaining the highest safety score.
The American airline safely connects travelers to approximately 140 destinations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Another British carrier joins the list, achieving a 7/7 safety rating despite facing three reported incidents: in-flight damage in 2008, a hard landing in 2014, and a tail strike in 2017.
This Spanish low-cost carrier boasts an impressive safety record, having experienced zero crashes since its inception in 2004.
The fourth-largest low-cost carrier in Europe and the biggest in its home country, the airline boasts affordable fares without compromising on safety. With a strong track record, the Nordic carrier has avoided any major accidents, demonstrating its commitment to passenger well-being.
Despite its smaller size, Flydubai operates a fleet of modern Boeing 737s. The airline demonstrated its commitment to safety by securing the 11th spot on the list of safest low-cost airlines for 2025.
Kicking off our look at the top 10 safest low-cost airlines with a 7/7 safety rating, Volaris distinguishes itself as the only airline in Mexico and one of few in Latin America recognized by AirlineRatings as one of the safest.
Despite achieving a perfect 7/7 safety rating, Southwest Airlines recently underwent an audit following a series of close calls involving its aircraft. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has concluded its several-month-long investigation without finding any safety-related issues with the airline.
The Vietnamese low-cost carrier has maintained the coveted seven-star safety rating for seven consecutive years, beginning in 2018.
The Hungarian ultra-low-cost carrier has consistently ranked among the top 10 safest low-cost airlines in recent years.
Airlines under AirAsia Aviation Limited have once again achieved a perfect 7/7 safety rating, a testament to their consistent success in passing rigorous safety audits over many years.
A hard landing incident in October 2024 raised concerns about the airline's safety record. However, the ranking panel deemed the incident was handled effectively and maintained the airline's current ranking pending the release of the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) official report.
The British low-cost group, which operates scheduled services on 927 routes across 34 countries, boasts a strong safety record. The airline excelled in all safety ratings, notably with no recorded pilot incidents or passenger fatalities in the last decade.
The Irish ultra-low-cost carrier operates a fleet exceeding 600 aircraft. The airline achieved a perfect seven out of seven safety rating in the ranking and has a remarkable safety record, with no passenger fatalities in its 38-year history.
Coming in at a close second is the Australian carrier, Jetstar. As one of Asia Pacific's largest low-cost airlines by revenue, Jetstar boasts an extensive network, operating over 5,000 flights weekly to more than 85 destinations.
Taking the crown from 2024's first place, Australia's Jetstar Group, Hong Kong Express comes in at number one. The airline boasts strong safety results, having avoided any serious incidents and maintained a near-perfect track record.
Sources: (Airline Ratings) (ABC News) (Forbes) (Yahoo News) (Condé Nast)
See also: What can recent crashes teach us about airplane safety?
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TRAVEL Flying
Budget airlines offer a fantastic way for travelers to explore the world without breaking the bank, but safety is always paramount. Can you truly have a cheap flight and peace of mind? Airline Ratings, a renowned source for airline and flying information, crunched the numbers and ranked the world's safest low-cost carriers, proving that affordability doesn't have to compromise your safety.
Click through to see which budget airlines aced the safety test and get ready to pack your bags!