Is Ethiopian Airlines safe? Safety band and record (Nov 2026)
1 Very low risk
Strong home-country safety audits and no red flags.
- 1 Very low risk this airline
- 2 Low risk
- 3 Moderate risk
- 4 Higher risk
This is an estimate from public safety audits and lists, not a guarantee.
Worldwide, flying caused about 1 death per 13.7 million passenger boardings in 2018–2022.
The facts behind it
- Home-country ICAO audit score: 86.2% (Ethiopia, 2020)
- IOSA safety audit: registered until 19 May 2028
- EU air safety list: not listed
- Last fatal accident: not checked yet
- Fleet: 148 aircraft
What sets the band
- Home country Ethiopia: ICAO audit score 86.2% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2020), so the band starts at 1.
- No red flags.
All inputs
- IATA IOSA registry: registered until 19 May 2028.
- EU Air Safety List: not listed.
- FAA safety assessment of the home country: Category 1.
- ICAO significant safety concern: none open.
- Fleet: 20% turboprop (30 of 148 aircraft).
Context (not part of the band)
- Accident history: not checked yet.
Sources
- ICAO USOAP: Ethiopia, average of the 8 audit areas (last audit 2020) · checked 5 November 2026
- ICAO USOAP: states with a significant safety concern · checked 5 November 2026
- FAA IASA program results (18 Apr 2025) · checked 5 November 2026
- IATA IOSA registry: registered until 2028-05-19 · checked 5 November 2026
- EU Air Safety List, 48th update (9 Jun 2026): not listed · checked 5 November 2026
Plan your trip: Do I need a visa? How early should I be at the airport? How safe is my flight? What should I know about my flight?
Not yet reviewed by our editor. How the band works Report a correction Ethiopian Airlines