There is no official US government ranking of the safest airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifies and oversees airlines, but it does not publish a best-to-worst safety league table.
In AirlineRatings.com’s private 2026 rankings, Alaska Airlines is the highest-placed US full-service carrier at 15th. Southwest is the highest-placed US low-cost carrier at 6th.
Which US airlines appear in the 2026 safety rankings?
Five US carriers appear in AirlineRatings.com’s 2026 top 25 lists. Alaska Airlines, Delta and American appear on the full-service list, while Southwest and JetBlue appear on the separate low-cost list.
These positions are not directly comparable across the two categories. AirlineRatings also warns that small differences in position should not be read as large differences in safety.
AirlineRatings uses factors including incident rates, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training, international audits and turbulence-prevention measures. It also considers information supplied by the airlines.
The result is useful as general context, but it is not a regulatory verdict. It should not be used to declare one FAA-approved carrier safe and another unsafe based only on a few ranking places.
How US airline safety is checked
Three systems provide more useful information than a simple league table.
- FAA certification: The FAA lists certificated operators and enforces mandatory safety rules, including airworthiness directives.
- NTSB investigations: The NTSB investigates US civil aviation accidents and publishes findings and safety recommendations.
- IOSA audits: IATA’s IOSA programme reviews airline operational-management systems. Registration is mandatory for IATA members and optional for non-members.
IATA reported that IOSA-registered airlines recorded 0.98 accidents per million sectors in 2025, compared with 2.55 for non-IOSA airlines. An airline’s absence from IOSA is not automatically a negative safety verdict.
How to check an airline before booking
These four checks cover the information most travellers can act on.
- Check who operates the flight. Look for the “operated by” line, especially on regional and codeshare services.
- Check the FAA operator search. Confirm that the operating airline appears as a certificated Part 121 operator.
- Check NTSB records. Use the CAROL database for US accident and investigation information.
- Check current directives and audits. Review FAA airworthiness directives for aircraft-specific issues and IATA’s registry for IOSA status.
Are US budget airlines less safe?
A cheaper ticket does not come with a cheaper set of FAA safety rules. The active passenger airlines in the comparison above operate under Part 121 requirements covering areas such as maintenance, pilot training and flight operations.
Southwest and JetBlue both appear in AirlineRatings.com’s 2026 low-cost top 25. Frontier and Allegiant do not, but absence from the list has no regulatory meaning.
What this means when you book
There is no official answer to “Which US airline is the safest?” AirlineRatings places Southwest highest among US low-cost carriers and Alaska highest among US full-service carriers in 2026, but the two lists use separate categories.
For most travellers choosing among established FAA-certificated airlines, route, price, baggage rules, schedule and punctuality are more practical deciding factors. Always check the operating carrier, particularly on a regional flight.
Compare fares for flights to the United States, along with hotels in Los Angeles or hotels in New York.
Safest airlines in the US: frequently asked questions
What is the safest airline in the US?
There is no official winner. AirlineRatings.com’s private 2026 lists place Southwest 6th among low-cost airlines and Alaska 15th among full-service airlines.
Is it safe to fly domestically in 2026?
Commercial flying remains very safe overall, but no journey is risk-free. The NTSB says several safety gaps identified after the January 2025 Washington collision still require action.
Are budget airlines less safe?
A low fare does not mean lower FAA standards. Major scheduled budget and full-service airlines operate under the same Part 121 regulatory framework.
Does missing the top 25 mean an airline is unsafe?
No. The AirlineRatings lists include only 25 airlines in each category from the 320 carriers it monitors, and absence has no regulatory meaning.
Sources
- AirlineRatings.com — World’s safest airline rankings for 2026
- Federal Aviation Administration — Air Operator 14 CFR Search
- Federal Aviation Administration — Safety: Continuous Improvement and 2024 ICAO audit
- National Transportation Safety Board — PSA Airlines Flight 5342 and US Army helicopter investigation
- National Transportation Safety Board — Statement on open DCA collision recommendations, 27 July 2026
- National Transportation Safety Board — Aviation Investigation Search
- International Air Transport Association — Safety Audit Programs fact sheet, June 2026
- International Air Transport Association — IOSA programme and registry
- Federal Aviation Administration — Airworthiness Directives
- Alaska Airlines — Alaska and Hawaiian receive a single operating certificate
- Spirit Airlines — Orderly wind-down of operations, 2 May 2026
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
