Safest airlines in Asia: safety bands (Nov 2026)

We group airlines by safety band instead of ranking them 1 to 59: within a band, airlines are listed A to Z.

Worldwide, flying caused about 1 death per 13.7 million passenger boardings in 2018–2022.

This is an estimate from public safety audits and lists, not a guarantee.

This list covers airlines based in East, Southeast and South Asia. Airlines from the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East, Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia are not on it.

Only airlines with a complete band that our editor has reviewed are listed. We are adding more.

Sources

How the band works Check your airline

1 Very low risk 44 airlines

Strong home-country safety audits and no red flags.

Air China (CA) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Air India (AI) · India
- Home country India: ICAO audit score 84.6% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Air India Express (IX) · India
- Home country India: ICAO audit score 84.6% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Akasa Air (QP) · India
- Home country India: ICAO audit score 84.6% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
All Nippon Airways (NH) · Japan
- Home country Japan: ICAO audit score 88.3% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2010), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Asiana Airlines (OZ) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Bamboo Airways (QH) · Vietnam
- Home country Vietnam: ICAO audit score 76.4% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Bangkok Airways (PG) · Thailand
- Home country Thailand: ICAO audit score 89.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Batik Air (ID) · Indonesia
- Home country Indonesia: ICAO audit score 76.0% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2017), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Cathay Pacific (CX) · Hong Kong
- Hong Kong: ICAO does not audit this aviation authority separately, so we use the FAA's assessment instead. FAA Category 1, so the band starts at 1.
checked 12 Nov 2026
China Airlines (CI) · Taiwan
- Taiwan: ICAO does not audit this aviation authority separately, so we use the FAA's assessment instead. FAA Category 1, so the band starts at 1.
checked 12 Nov 2026
China Eastern Airlines (MU) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
China Southern Airlines (CZ) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Citilink (QG) · Indonesia
- Home country Indonesia: ICAO audit score 76.0% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2017), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Eastar Jet (ZE) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
EVA Air (BR) · Taiwan
- Taiwan: ICAO does not audit this aviation authority separately, so we use the FAA's assessment instead. FAA Category 1, so the band starts at 1.
checked 12 Nov 2026
Garuda Indonesia (GA) · Indonesia
- Home country Indonesia: ICAO audit score 76.0% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2017), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Hainan Airlines (HU) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
HK Express (UO) · Hong Kong
- Hong Kong: ICAO does not audit this aviation authority separately, so we use the FAA's assessment instead. FAA Category 1, so the band starts at 1.
checked 12 Nov 2026
Hong Kong Airlines (HX) · Hong Kong
- Hong Kong: ICAO does not audit this aviation authority separately, so we use the FAA's assessment instead. FAA Category 1, so the band starts at 1.
checked 12 Nov 2026
IndiGo (6E) · India
- Home country India: ICAO audit score 84.6% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Japan Airlines (JL) · Japan
- Home country Japan: ICAO audit score 88.3% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2010), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Jeju Air (7C) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Jin Air (LJ) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Juneyao Air (HO) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Korean Air (KE) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Lion Air (JT) · Indonesia
- Home country Indonesia: ICAO audit score 76.0% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2017), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Nok Air (DD) · Thailand
- Home country Thailand: ICAO audit score 89.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Scoot (TR) · Singapore
- Home country Singapore: ICAO audit score 99.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Shandong Airlines (SC) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Shanghai Airlines (FM) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Sichuan Airlines (3U) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Singapore Airlines (SQ) · Singapore
- Home country Singapore: ICAO audit score 99.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Spring Airlines (9C) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
SriLankan Airlines (UL) · Sri Lanka
- Home country Sri Lanka: ICAO audit score 91.1% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2020), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
STARLUX Airlines (JX) · Taiwan
- Taiwan: ICAO does not audit this aviation authority separately, so we use the FAA's assessment instead. FAA Category 1, so the band starts at 1.
checked 12 Nov 2026
Thai AirAsia (FD) · Thailand
- Home country Thailand: ICAO audit score 89.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Thai Airways International (TG) · Thailand
- Home country Thailand: ICAO audit score 89.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Thai Lion Air (SL) · Thailand
- Home country Thailand: ICAO audit score 89.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Tianjin Airlines (GS) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Trinity Airways (TW) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Vietjet (VJ) · Vietnam
- Home country Vietnam: ICAO audit score 76.4% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Xiamen Airlines (XiamenAir) (MF) · China
- Home country China: ICAO audit score 88.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2024), so the band starts at 1.
checked 3 Nov 2026

2 Low risk 12 airlines

Good, with one weak point: a somewhat lower home-country audit score, or one red flag.

Air Busan (BX) · South Korea
- Home country South Korea: ICAO audit score 98.5% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2008), so the band starts at 1.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026
AirAsia (AK) · Malaysia
- Home country Malaysia: ICAO audit score 74.2% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2020), so the band starts at 2.
checked 3 Nov 2026
AirAsia X (D7) · Malaysia
- Home country Malaysia: ICAO audit score 74.2% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2020), so the band starts at 2.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Batik Air Malaysia (OD) · Malaysia
- Home country Malaysia: ICAO audit score 74.2% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2020), so the band starts at 2.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Cebu Pacific (5J) · Philippines
- Home country Philippines: ICAO audit score 73.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 2.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Jetstar Japan (GK) · Japan
- Home country Japan: ICAO audit score 88.3% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2010), so the band starts at 1.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Malaysia Airlines (MH) · Malaysia
- Home country Malaysia: ICAO audit score 74.2% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2020), so the band starts at 2.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Peach Aviation (MM) · Japan
- Home country Japan: ICAO audit score 88.3% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2010), so the band starts at 1.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Philippine Airlines (PR) · Philippines
- Home country Philippines: ICAO audit score 73.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 2.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Skymark Airlines (BC) · Japan
- Home country Japan: ICAO audit score 88.3% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2010), so the band starts at 1.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Thai Vietjet Air (VZ) · Thailand
- Home country Thailand: ICAO audit score 89.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 1.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026
Wings Air (IW) · Indonesia
- Home country Indonesia: ICAO audit score 76.0% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2017), so the band starts at 1.
- 100% of the fleet is turboprop: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026

3 Moderate risk: see the details 2 airlines

Weaker results: a low home-country audit score, or more than one weak point.

Air Cambodia (K6) · Cambodia
- Home country Cambodia: ICAO audit score 64.6% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2025), so the band starts at 2.
- 57% of the fleet is turboprop: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026
AirAsia Philippines (Z2) · Philippines
- Home country Philippines: ICAO audit score 73.8% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2022), so the band starts at 2.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026

4 Higher risk 1 airlines

Serious concerns: banned in the EU, or several weak points together.

Lao Airlines (QV) · Laos
- Home country Laos: ICAO audit score 72.9% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2015), so the band starts at 2.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
- 54% of the fleet is turboprop: one band down.
checked 3 Nov 2026

What the band does not tell you

It does not rate a single flight, aircraft, crew or route, and it is not a prediction. Audits and lists are updated at different times, so an input can be months old; every input shows the date we checked it.

If an input is missing, we give no band and say so, rather than guess.

Reviewed by Hendrik Jansuk on 12 Nov 2026. How the band works Report a correction