There is no official ranking of Europe’s safest airlines. Aviation regulators certify or restrict airlines; they do not rank them. The list below uses AirlineRatings.com’s independent 2026 ranking, which assessed 320 airlines.
Bottom line: every airline in the top 25 is considered a strong safety performer by AirlineRatings.com. Small differences in position should not be read as major differences in safety.
European airlines in the 2026 ranking
Full-service airlines
| Global rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 12 | Turkish Airlines |
| 13 | Virgin Atlantic |
| 16 | TAP Air Portugal |
| 17 | SAS |
| 18 | British Airways |
| 20 | Iberia |
| 21 | Lufthansa |
Low-cost airlines
| Global rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 5 | easyJet Group |
| 7 | airBaltic |
| 9 | Wizz Air Group |
| 11 | TUI UK |
| 12 | Vueling |
| 13 | Norwegian |
| 17 | Jet2 |
| 18 | Ryanair Ireland and UK |
| 20 | Transavia Group |
| 21 | Eurowings Group |
These numbers are global positions within two separate lists. They should not be combined into one European ranking. An airline missing from the top 25 is not automatically unsafe.
What travellers should check before booking
- Check the operating airline. A codeshare may be flown by a different carrier from the one named on your ticket.
- Check the EU Air Safety List. It identifies airlines banned or restricted from operating in the EU; it is not a ranking.
- Compare price, schedule and route. A small difference in ranking position does not show that one listed airline is significantly safer than another.
- Keep your seatbelt fastened while seated. Turbulence remains a leading cause of in-flight injuries.
As of the EU list’s 9 June 2026 update, 154 airlines are banned from EU skies and two more face aircraft-specific restrictions. Airlines certified in Kyrgyzstan were removed from the list, while Air Express Algeria was added.
How the ranking was compiled
AirlineRatings.com says its 2026 assessment considered incident rates adjusted for total flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training, international safety audits, transparency and turbulence management. It also stressed that fewer than four points separated positions 1 to 14 in the full-service list.
Frequently asked questions
Which airline is the safest in Europe?
There is no official answer. In AirlineRatings.com’s separate 2026 lists, easyJet Group is the highest-placed European low-cost carrier at No. 5, while Turkish Airlines is the highest-placed European full-service carrier at No. 12.
Are budget airlines less safe?
A low fare does not create a separate safety standard. Airlines must meet the operational and airworthiness rules applied by their certifying authorities.
Does missing the top 25 mean an airline is unsafe?
No. The ranking covers only 25 places in each category, and omission is not a regulatory safety finding.
What should I check before booking?
Confirm the operating carrier, check the current EU Air Safety List when relevant, and compare schedule, route, baggage and price rather than overreading small ranking differences.
