The recent European Airline Safety Index released by AirAdvisor highlights the safety performances of major carriers over the past decade, ranking Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, and Austrian Airlines as the top three safest airlines in Europe based on 2025 flight data.
This comprehensive index evaluated twenty airlines, both low-cost and mainline, assigning scores out of 100 across six categories: safety record, certification, operational safety systems, fleet age, pilot training, and financial stability. Aegean Airlines led with a perfect safety record, earning 89 points overall, followed closely by Ryanair with 86 and Austrian Airlines with 85.5.
Interestingly, the index revealed that low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Norwegian, and SunExpress ranked high in safety performance, contradicting common assumptions that cheaper tickets might imply higher risks. The study emphasized that a younger, well-maintained fleet contributes to safety, but fleet age alone is not definitive. Properly maintained older aircraft can be as safe as newer models.
Further, the report indicated that safety ratings are a layered assessment, not solely based on accident history but also on operational and financial factors. The rankings suggest a level playing field among various European airlines regarding safety management, and highlight the importance of comprehensive safety standards across the industry.
