A new study ranks the safest U.S. airlines for 2025, confirming air travel remains statistically safe despite recent incidents
New Study: These Are the Safest Airlines in the U.S.
Updated on Feb. 24, 2025
Until recently, the U.S. had gone nearly 16 years without a major fatal crash involving one of the nation’s major airliners. There hadn’t been a deadly incident involving a major U.S. carrier since 2009—until the Jan. 29, 2025, midair collision of an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter, which tragically killed 67 people in Washington, D.C.
Still, flying remains one of the most popular modes of transportation in the United States, with the Transportation Security Administration screening well over 2 million passengers at TSA checkpoints across the country per day so far in 2025, according to the agency. And despite high-profile incidents, air travel remains statistically safe. A 2024 study out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that between 2018 and 2022, the risk of death per boarding for worldwide passengers was just 1 in 13.7 million.
More positive news: U.S.-based carriers have been historically among the safest. A new study by the site AirlineRatings broke down airline-safety ratings for 2025. Read on to learn which U.S. airlines are the safest.
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How did AirlineRatings determine safety?
AirlineRatings monitors the more than 230 airlines that carry 99% of the world’s passengers, according to CEO Sharon Peterson, who spoke to Reader’s Digest earlier this month. Experts consult with pilots and aviation specialists to assess a long list of safety factors, including fleet age and size, incident and fatality rates, industry audit results and pilot skills and training.
Peterson emphasizes that context is important when evaluating safety data. “For instance, an airline operating only 100 aircraft experiencing three incidents raises greater concern than an airline with 800 aircraft experiencing six incidents,” she says.
Another crucial factor that AirlineRatings considers is how airlines handle incidents, such as aircraft- or engine-manufacturing issues, when they do happen. “While incidents occur daily across the aviation industry, the expertise of pilots and crew often determines whether an event remains an incident or escalates into a tragedy,” Peterson explains.
She highlights the crash of JAL Flight 516 at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in January 2024, in which the plane’s crew applied their rigorous training effectively and passengers followed safety protocols. “In less-capable hands, this incident might have resulted in disaster,” Peterson says. “For our purposes, such an incident can actually enhance an airline’s safety profile.”
What is the difference between a low-cost versus full-service carrier in the United States?
AirlineRatings graded the top full-service and low-cost carriers around the world. Before we get into the airline-safety ratings, it’s helpful to understand the two categories. The difference between a full-service carrier and a low-cost carrier in the study came down to small differences, such as passengers needing to buy almost all the extras, including seat assignments.
That said, in the United States, the distinction between full-service and low-cost airlines is increasingly blurred. “In America, there is a real emergence of the hybrid carrier, whereby some things, like water and soft drinks, are included, but you still need to pay for snacks and meals,” Peterson explains.
What were the safest full-service airlines in the U.S. in 2025?
Of the world’s top 25 full-service carriers, five U.S. airlines made the cut in the 2025 airline-safety ratings.
- Alaska Airlines (No. 9)
- Hawaiian Airlines (No. 12)
- American Airlines (No. 13, ranked before the recent Washington, D.C., crash)
- Delta Air Lines (No. 21)
- United Airlines (No. 23)
What were the safest low-cost airlines in the U.S. in 2025?
Of the world’s top 25 low-cost carriers, five U.S. airlines made the cut.
- Frontier Airlines (No. 5)
- Southwest Airlines (No. 9)
- Sun Country Airlines (No. 15)
- JetBlue Airways (No. 17)
- Allegiant Air (No. 21)
Are low-cost airlines as safe as full-service airlines?
In short, yes. “Flying in America is very safe, especially when you look at the sheer volume of traffic,” Peterson says. Before the recent American Airlines crash, Peterson adds, ranking primarily “came down to the incident rate in relation to the fleet size and fleet age to separate them,” because there just weren’t a lot of other factors to look at.
About the expert
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on airline-safety ratings, Aaron Rasmussen tapped his experience as a longtime travel writer and travel guidebook editor to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- TSA: “TSA Checkpoint Travel Numbers”
- Journal of Air Transport Management: “Airline Safety: Still Getting Better?”
- Sharon Peterson, CEO, AirlineRatings; email interview, February 2025
- AirlineRatings: “The World’s Safest Airlines for 2025”
