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Airline Safety Rankings: Insights from AirlineRatings.com on Indian Carriers
On the grow, but still asking the big question: Safety!
Stay updated with the ever-evolving landscape of India's aviation sector. At AirlineRatings.com, we've been using our transparent and reliable 7-star airline safety rating system for over 13 years. It helps determine risk and steer you to the safest airline for your journey. Let's delve into the scores and histories of India's major airlines in 2025.
Safety Ratings for Major Indian Airlines (2025)
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We all know how busy bodies get when it comes to their travels, especially in India's growing aviation market. To ensure your journey stays top notch, we use three major factors to determine an airline's safety rating:
- Pilot-Related Safety Incidents We take a close look at whether an airline has experienced serious pilot-related safety incidents. If there aren't any, the airline gets 3 stars. If there are, it receives anywhere between zero to 2 stars, dependent on severity and frequency.
- Fatal Accidents in the Last 10 Years This part is critical. If an airline has had a fatal crash involving crew or passengers in the last decade, 3 stars are deducted from the rating. We believe it can take a full decade to truly reshape an airline's safety culture. Not all accidents are treated equally though. Terrorism, hijacking, pilot suicide, and accidents not the airline's fault (e.g., runway incursions by other vehicles) don't result in star deductions. Fairness and balance are key to our assessment.
- International Safety Audits We consider how the airline fares in significant global safety audits, such as ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) country safety audits, IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit), EU airline bans, and FAA safety ratings. If the airline passes these audits, it earns one star. If it falls short, the star is removed.
A notable exception is made for airlines with no crashes in their history, like EasyJet (UK), even if they haven't completed IOSA. Their safety record speaks for itself, earning them the star.
The Evolution Of India's Safety Ratings
To be honest, India's safety rating over the past 13 years has been shaky. The main culprit? Fluctuations in the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) country safety audit. However, recent improvements are heartening, and all Indian carriers, except for Air India Express, have seen their scores improve over time.
Remember Air India Express? A tragic runway overrun in Kozhikode in 2020 left 21 casualties. This incident alone means their safety score will not go back to the maximum level before 2030, pending no further serious events. The airline has also experienced multiple operational incidents in the past three years, leading to additional star deductions under the "incidents" category. For more information, head over to AeroInsider.com.
IndiGo, despite not being involved in any fatal accidents, has recorded various operational safety events, including loss of separation in airspace, tail strikes on takeoff, and runway excursions. It's crucial to note that such incidents occur across all airlines; what truly matters is how they are managed. In IndiGo's case, the flight crews have responded professionally, allowing a single star deduction for their safety rating, yet they still maintain a respectable 6 out of 7 stars.
Their recent growth has resulted in a larger operation, and hence, a higher number of reported incidents due to volume. This should be considered in context.
SpiceJet and Akasa Air boast relatively clean records. SpiceJet retains a full 7-star safety rating, while Akasa scores 6 out of 7 stars, bearing a slight deduction due to the absence of IOSA certification.
India's aviation sector is experiencing a rush of growth, bringing millions closer to their dreams and destinations. As the industry soars to new heights, it is crucial to maintain a profound sense of responsibility to ensure every journey remains as safe as it is exciting. While many airlines have made remarkable progress, recent tragedies serve as a grim reminder that safety should never be taken for granted.
Airline news reveals that the safety ratings of major Indian airlines in 2025 were determined by three factors: pilot-related safety incidents, fatal accidents in the last 10 years, and international safety audits. (finance, business, airline safety ratings)
Despite improvements over the past 13 years, India's safety ratings have been unstable, with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) country safety audit being a significant cause. (airline news, safety ratings, finance, business)
