Top Safest Airlines to Fly in the United States (2026)

Based on global safety analysis, Alaska Airlines is the safest airline in the U.S. in 2026. Out of 320 air carriers in the world, this airline is at number 15. These analyses are based on past accident records, as well as pilot training, aircraft age, and maintenance procedures of individual carriers. These rankings are derived from an independent safety evaluation done by AirlineRatings.com. It rated over 320 airlines globally.

Additionally, American, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest are also among the top five safest airlines in the U.S. All five of these carriers also comply with strict FAA regulations and meet international safety requirements.

What are the Safest Airlines in the United States (2026)?

Among full-service airlines flying in the USA, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines rank the highest. Unlike budget carriers, they offer a complete range of services as part of the ticket price. Moreover, Southwest and JetBlue rank highest in the category of low-cost carriers in the US.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is the most secure U.S. airline with a safety record of 7/7. Based in Seattle, it mainly flies Boeing 737’s with an average fleet age of 7.2 years. These airplanes are much younger than the rest of the US carriers. The main safety highlights are:

• On average, it operates approximately 1,500 flights per day.
• In January 2024, a door plug incident occurred.
• Later, it was found to be due to Boeing manufacturing defects.
• These were not operational errors.
• After this incident, inspection protocols were put into place.
• All safety and inspection records are shared and reported publicly.
• Moreover, there have been 24 years without a passenger death.

Delta Air Lines

Ranked number 23 globally, Delta Air Lines is ranked the second safest carrier to fly with in the United States. It has a fleet of 1,200-plus planes. These aircraft have an average age of 17.2 years. Moreover, this carrier invests in pilot training and aircraft maintenance to ensure the safety of its passengers.

• In the last 2 years (2023-2024), there have been 2 minor non-fatal aircraft incidents.
• None resulted in injuries to passengers.
• It continues to replace ageing planes with newer ones.
• The newer aircraft include the Boeing 737 Next Generation and Airbus A321.
• This fleet renewal program provides operational safety throughout all of its routes.

American Airlines

Numbered 24 globally, American Airlines has a strict safety policy. Being one of the largest passenger air carriers in the world, it provides its passengers with a safe and secure service to all its routes.

• American Airlines is one of the largest carriers in the world.
• It operates 1,590 aircraft across hundreds of routes.
• Average fleet age is 11.1 years.
• These are regularly updated for safety.
• No passenger fatalities in many years, showing a strong safety record.

Safest Low-Cost Airlines in the US

Southwest and JetBlue are among the highest-ranking budget carriers. They follow the same FAA safety rules as full-service carriers. However, by using fewer aircraft types, their operations become easier to manage, improving safety.

Southwest Airlines

World’s sixth-best low-cost carrier, Southwest Airlines proves that budget airlines can achieve excellent safety records while still being cost-effective. The airline’s fleet, operations, and culture prioritize safety for its flyers.

• Southwest’s fleet has an average age of 11 years.
• Southwest has the largest domestic fleet in the United States.
• It operates thousands of daily flights.
• No major fatal accidents have been reported in recent years.
• It is recognized as North America’s most punctual airline.
• For the same, it has 82.27% on-time record as of March 2025.

JetBlue Airways

The 14th best budget carrier, JetBlue, provides safety and comfort to its passengers. For the same, it uses a modern fleet that is approximately 10 years old on average.

• The last aircraft accident occurred in 2022.
• The incident involved a tail strike during landing.
• No passenger injuries reported.
• The aircraft sustained no serious damage.

Overall, Alaska Airlines, Delta, American Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue are some of the high ranking US carriers based on safety. Flyers can opt for these air operators while flying throughout the country.

FAQs