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The world is full of anxiety triggers, but trusting a pair of strangers in goofy uniforms to safely fly a giant metallic tube through the clouds is certainly toward the top of the list.
The good news is flying is the safest form of travel in the world. Plane crashes are often just for Hollywood scripts, especially when it comes to America's skies.
Once you fly for the first time and know what to expect, it tends to become less of a worry. However, it's still nice to know which airlines hold the highest safety ratings.
The pros at Airlineratings.com released their annual report of the top 25 safest airlines in the world, with 4 U.S.-based airlines making the cut.
#25 – United Airlines
Coming in barely making the top 25 worldwide is the mega-popular U.S. carrier, United Airlines. One reason they are so popular is their seemingly endless route map.
Headquartered in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois, United has many hubs across America. Along with Chicago, two of the most popular are Newark, NJ, which is essentially a hub for the bright lights of New York City, and Denver, a convenient, centrally located stopping point.
Others are Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Washington DC (IAD), Houston (IAH), and even Guam (GUM) of all places.
Connectivity is super easy flying with United and it's an added bonus knowing they are one of the safest airlines in the world.
Looking beyond safety standards, United recently broke its own performance record, completing 99.7% of flights in December – the lowest cancellation rate ever!
#22 – American Airlines
Slightly beating out United's safety rating is another mega-popular U.S. carrier, American Airlines. Based in Fort Worth,Texas, the massive Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) serves as a major hub.
Along with United, their global flight network never seems to end with amazing destinations all over the map making American a one-stop shop for weekend getaways or dreamy vacations.
The airline continues to expand with new flights being announced throughout the year, such as the stunning Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Aruba and the first-ever flight to a popular Mexican city.
#21 – Hawaiian Airlines
Is there any more nerve-wracking flight experience than flying over the ocean? When jetting off to one of America's most gorgeous vacation destinations, there is simply no way to avoid flying over the vast Pacific Ocean for hours.
Hawaiian Airlines is among the safest airlines in the U.S. to put you at ease when looking out the window. The airline runs a top-notch fleet of aircraft, including the sexy Boeing 787-9 with the cushy Leihōkū Suites.
When it comes to reaching Hawaii, this is the airline you want to go with. Direct flights to their base of Honolulu are frequent across many popular airports across the U.S., including Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to name a few.
Travelers can reach just about anywhere in Hawaii by connecting through Honolulu as well. Maui, Kona, Oahu, you name it.
#10 – Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has made the top 10 safest airlines the last two years running, although falling a couple of spots for 2024.
Popular amongst West Coast travelers, especially with the airline's Flight Pass subscription, this airline has grown substantially over the years.
After acquiring Virgin Airlines years ago, Alaska now flies to over 120 destinations, including popular vacation spots such as Los Cabos and the Bahamas.
Not only can you rest assured you are on the safest airline in the U.S., but you should also know you got the best price when purchasing airfare on their official website. In fact, the airline guarantees it.
How AirlineRatings Determines Airline Safety
With over 385 airlines are monitored worldwide, AirlineRatings has set the industry standard in determining flight safety ratings.
According to their website, key factors used are:
- Number of crashes in recent years
- Serious incidents in past 2 years
- Industry audits
- Average age of fleet
- Reviewing pilot training programs
- COVID-19 compliance protocols
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Francis Williams
Saturday 6th of January 2024
but Alaska airlines just had a big blowout on one of its planes and had another mishap recently with a runway incident. I disagree with it being on your list,instead of Jet Blue for instance.