New safety ranking puts Aegean, Ryanair and Austrian Airlines at the top in Europe
AirAdvisor's 2026 index scores 20 big European airlines using records from 2016 to 2025, and it is not an official safety certification.
AirAdvisor has published its 2026 European Airline Safety Index. It ranks 20 large airlines that fly in Europe, using records from 2016 to 2025.
Euronews Travel reported that Aegean Airlines, Ryanair and Austrian Airlines took the top three places. The list covers 10 low-cost airlines and 10 traditional airlines. They were chosen using 2025 flight activity data from EUROCONTROL.
Each airline gets one combined score from six weighted areas. Past accidents count the most. Next come certification, regulator audits and how safety is managed day to day. The overall rating is rounded out by the aircraft and their onboard features, how pilots are trained, and how financially steady the company is.
Travel and Tour World noted that the index is a way to compare airlines, not an official certification from a regulator.
What it means for travelers
The index gives travelers one simple way to compare how a group of big European airlines score on safety. It shows which factors are weighed, so readers can see what the scores are based on. Because it is not an official certification, it is best used as one source of information among others.
What to watch next
Travelers who want more detail can look at how each category is scored and check airline safety information from official aviation sources.
How the story unfolded
Read the original reporting
- Travel and Tour World – Greece Leads Ireland and More as Aegean Tops 2026 European Airline Safety Index for Travellers ↗
- Euronews Travel – Aegean, Ryanair and Austrian ranked highest in new 10-year European Airline Safety Index ↗
Quick questions
What is the news in short?
AirAdvisor's 2026 index scores 20 big European airlines using records from 2016 to 2025, and it is not an official safety certification.
How does this affect trips to Austria?
The index gives travelers one simple way to compare how a group of big European airlines score on safety. It shows which factors are weighed, so readers can see what the scores are based on. Because it is not an official certification, it is best used as one source of information among others.
What should I do now?
Travelers who want more detail can look at how each category is scored and check airline safety information from official aviation sources.
Where does this information come from?
This brief is based on reporting from Travel and Tour World and Euronews Travel. Links to the original stories are listed on this page.
Related earlier briefs
Delta Traveler Removed From Bogotá–Atlanta Flight After Seat-Swap Dispute
A passenger says he was taken off Delta flight 983 after declining a seat change and filming the crew; Delta says he did not follow crew instructions.
From 4 outlets
Southwest Airlines launches flight search inside ChatGPT, a first for a US airline
Southwest has added a ChatGPT plugin that lets travelers look up flights in a chat, and it is the first step in a bigger AI booking plan.
From 3 outlets
British Airways Plans New Food, Tableware and Bedding for Long-Haul First Class
British Airways is refreshing the extras in its First Class cabin, from meals and glassware to pyjamas and amenity kits, in its biggest update since 2019.
From 3 outletsBefore you go: visa rules, fees, prices and schedules change often – always confirm with the embassy, airline, cruise line or official government website before you book or travel.
How we made this brief: RoamSun brings together facts reported by the outlets listed above and writes a fresh, short explanation with the help of AI. Every brief is checked so it does not copy the publishers' wording. The original reporting belongs to those outlets – please read their full stories.
