Qantas

Qantas maintains an outstanding safety record and is widely recognized as one of the safest airlines globally.

• Recent safety record and any notable incidents: Qantas has not experienced a fatal accident since 1951 and has not lost an aircraft since 1960. While the airline has an exceptional record, there have been a few non-fatal incidents in recent years:
• In May 2024 and November 2024, Qantas Boeing 737-800 flights experienced severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to a few passengers.
• In January 2023, two separate Qantas flights, QF144 and QF101, returned to Sydney due to an engine failure and a mechanical issue, respectively, with no injuries reported.
• In November 2024, Qantas Flight QF520 also returned to Sydney following an engine failure shortly after departure, landing safely.
• Minor incidents in March and September 2025 involved smoke detected on the flight deck or in the cabin, leading to safe diversions and landings.
• A Qantas Boeing 737-800 flight in March 2025 had a captain partially incapacitated during a flight from Brisbane to Sydney.

• Regulatory certifications: Qantas's consistent high rankings in global safety assessments, which consider audits from aviation's governing and industry bodies, suggest adherence to rigorous international safety standards. The airline's robust approach to safety and operational discipline is regarded as a benchmark within the industry.

• Fleet age and maintenance reputation: As of November 2025, the Qantas mainline fleet has an average age of 16.2 years. While some aviation experts have noted an increasing average fleet age, potentially impacting its top safety ranking in some surveys, they emphasize that well-maintained older aircraft can be incredibly safe. Qantas has a strong and long-standing reputation for its maintenance practices, a focus established by its chief aircraft engineer, Arthur Baird, in its early years. The airline has significant orders for new aircraft to progressively replace and modernize its fleet over the coming decade.

• Overall safety assessment based on available data: Qantas consistently ranks among the safest airlines in the world. AirlineRatings.com named Qantas the world's safest airline in 2014 and 2023, and it was ranked second in the full-service airline category for 2024 and 2025. In July 2025, Qantas also received the "greatest peace of mind when flying" award in AirlineRatings.com's Flyers' Choice Awards. This strong safety record is attributed to its operational discipline, comprehensive pilot training, and robust fleet management practices.

• Any safety awards or recognitions:
• Ranked 2nd in AirlineRatings.com's "World's Safest Airlines for 2024" (full-service category).
• Topped AirlineRatings.com's "Flyers' Choice Awards 2025" for providing the "greatest peace of mind when flying."
• Recognized as the world's safest airline by AirlineRatings in 2014 and 2023.
• The crew of Qantas Flight 32 received the "Professionalism Award in Flight Safety" from the Flight Safety Foundation in 2011, acknowledging their exceptional airmanship during an uncontained engine failure incident in 2010.