Travel Guide
These Are The 3 Safest U.S. Airlines For 2025
Jan
Year after year, airlineratings.com has released their annual list of the world’s safest airlines in some form or another.
For 2025, these travel experts unveiled some big surprises both globally and domestically – many of which fly through U.S. skies.
You might be wondering how such a list is compiled. No worries; it’s not some basement-dwelling dimwit using AI based on a bunch of gobbledygook.
AirlineRatings gathers its data from pilots and various aviation experts as well as uses the following information to put together an insightful list for travelers like you and me.
- Noteworthy incidents over a two-year span
- Age of fleet
- Size of fleet
- Rate of incidents
- Fatalities
- Profitability
- IOSA certification
- ICAO country audit pass
- Pilot training and skill level
There you have it. Now let’s dig in!
These are the 3 safest U.S. airlines for 2025:
3) American Airlines
Some airlines on the list you’ll likely never board, but American Airlines is truly an American staple.
Headquartered in the Dallas region, even providing employees with their own hotel, travelers may love flying American just as much as flight attendants enjoy their cool perks.
Out of all U.S. airlines ranking in the top 23 global airlines for safety, America comes in 3rd in the nation and 13th in the world, which is great to know since the latest data shows the mega-popular airline served over 2 million passengers in 2023.
American flies to some really awesome places all over the world, including 2 exciting new routes to Italy this year, and obviously connects much of the U.S., given its name.
In terms of safety, AA scores a perfect 7/7, while the product is just a 5.5/7. And ohhh boy, don’t get travelers started on the passenger experience, scoring a lowly 4.4.
As the kids would say, “that’s mid, bruh”. But anything beats Spirit, right?
2) Hawaiian Airlines
Ever flown across the ocean?
The views can be stunningly beautiful or absolutely terrifying. You may not want a window seat if you’re the type that looks down when someone says, “Don’t look down!”.
Hawaiian Airlines obviously connects Hawaii to the mainland, among numerous international destinations as well.
In other words, all flights soar over the ocean, so there may be no other airline you’ll want to feel safer since Captain Sully retired.
Hawaiian barely eked out Americans for the 12th spot globally and also holds bragging rights for better service and products, with a 5.4 passenger experience score and perfect 7/7 ratings for product and safety.
1) Alaska Airlines
Let’s get right to it. Airline Ratings has got some ‘splainin’ to do.
Remember when Alaska Airlines’ door plug blew off in 2024? It had nothing to do with those wild stories of passengers attempting to open emergency doors mid-flight and everything to do with maintenance shortcuts.
That doesn’t exactly paint a picture of safety. Perhaps this is where Airline Ratings’ “fatalities” bullet point comes into play since there were fortunately no lives lost during one of the scariest flight situations imaginable.
Despite this mishap just a year ago, Alaska Airlines remains a very popular airline, especially for short getaways. Not only does Alaska fly to, well, Alaska, they fly to many awesome cities and hidden gems, many of which are along the West Coast.
In addition to having the most reliable wi-fi, Alaska notched perfect ratings for product and safety (somehow) and matches Hawaiian with a 5.4 passenger experience score.
Airline Ratings’ Take On Air Safety In 2025
In a day and age of instant information, flight accidents may seem like they occur more often, but they may just be reaching our screens quicker.
It might be tempting to jump to conclusions when you see (very few) planes fall from the sky, but Airline Ratings cites a recent airline study claiming ‘global death risk per flight boarding was approximately one in 13.7 million’.
Pretty solid odds, right?
However, those concerned might appreciate Skyscanner’s new tool, a first-of-its-kind flight booking platform allowing users to search for flights based on safety.
