VIETNAM AIRLINES NAMED AMONG THE WORLD'S 25 SAFEST FULL-SERVICE AIRLINES FOR 2026 BY AIRLINERATINGS

Vietnam Airlines has been ranked 19th worldwide in AirlineRatings’ Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2026, marking a three-place improvement year-on-year and making it the only airline from Vietnam to appear on the prestigious list.

The annual ranking evaluates the safety performance of the 320 airlines AirlineRatings monitors globally, measuring compliance with international safety standards and long-term operational consistency. Vietnam Airlines’ upward movement reflects its sustained commitment to safety excellence and continuous improvement as Vietnam’s national flag carrier.

AirlineRatings is the world's leading provider in airline news, passenger reviews and safety ratings, with its assessments widely referenced by airlines, regulators, and industry stakeholders. In the 2026 rankings, Vietnam Airlines joins a group of leading global carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways (ANA).

Much of the criteria remain consistent year on year and consider incident rates adjusted for the total number of flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training, and international safety audits. One change this year is that AirlineRatings is placing a greater emphasis on turbulence prevention, as it remains the leading cause of in-flight injuries.

To mitigate turbulence-related risks, Vietnam Airlines utilises advanced meteorological forecasting, visualisation, and analytical systems, integrating real-time weather data with terrain-specific factors. These tools support proactive operational planning and early pilot alerts, helping to enhance passenger safety and flight comfort.

Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings, said: “Ranking 19th in our 2026 World’s Safest Airlines list, Vietnam Airlines has continued to move upward from its 2025 position. This improvement reflects ongoing, measurable progress across fleet quality; safety systems; industry audit performance; a very low incident rate; and overall operational consistency, rather than any single isolated factor. In addition, Vietnam’s national aviation oversight continues to strengthen, as assessed through ICAO country audits, benefiting not only Vietnam-based carriers but also the international airlines operating into and out of the country.”

Dinh Van Tuan, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, said: “A strong safety culture is the cornerstone of sustainable aviation growth. Vietnam Airlines continuously strengthens risk management, invests in advanced technologies, enhances workforce training, and aligns its operations with international best practices. Our continued inclusion among the world’s safest full-service airlines demonstrates the growing global standing of Vietnamese aviation. Built on a foundation of safety, quality, and global-standard governance, Vietnam Airlines remains dedicated to connecting Vietnam with the world and reinforcing the country’s reputation as a safe, reliable, and internationally integrated destination.”

Vietnam Airlines was the first airline in Vietnam to achieve the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification and has maintained IOSA registration continuously since 2006. Its Safety Management System (SMS), implemented in 2007, meets the highest international safety standards and has been recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam as a reference model for other domestic aviation organisations. In 2023, IATA selected Vietnam Airlines to host the World Safety and Operations Conference, underscoring the airline’s influence and credibility within the global aviation community.

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About Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines, a member of SkyTeam Alliance, is the flag carrier of Vietnam, connecting the world’s most thriving destinations with nearly 100 routes to 22 domestic and 30 international destinations in 18 countries.  Vietnam Airlines boasts one of the youngest and most modern fleets in Asia, highlighted by their Boeing 787-9 and -10 Dreamliners, Airbus A350-900 XWBs and Airbus A320, A321neos, offering impeccable level of comfort and service throughout every journey. 

The carrier is recognised as one of the region’s leading airlines thanks to its modern fleet and its commitment towards innovation, digitalisation and development — earning it international acclaim as validated by numerous prestigious awards including Top 25 World’s Safest Airlines for 2025, Top 20 World’s Best Airlines for 2025, World's Best Value Premium Economy, Top 20 World’s Best Airline by Airline Ratings (2023); Global 5 Star Airline 2023, Major 5 Star Airline 2024 by APEX; Skytrax’s 4 Star Airline for four consecutive years; numerous awards by the World Travel Awards such as “World’s Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class” and “World’s Leading Cultural Airline” (2017, 2018), “Asia’s Leading Airline – Economy Class” and “Asia’s Leading Cultural Airline”; and “Asia Pacific Airline of the Year” by CAPA (2017). These achievements stand as a testament to the airline’s quality across a range of products and services. 

Vietnam Airlines also implements many sustainable development solutions. Not only raising awareness and encouraging innovation, the airline hopes to join hands with airlines around the world to shape the future of the global aviation industry, together reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Vietnam Airlines has spearheaded Vietnam’s aviation market – one of the fastest-growing domestic markets in the world – throughout 30 years of development at a double-digit annual growth rate. Positioning itself as a modern carrier characterised by high quality services embedded with Vietnamese unique cultural identity, Vietnam Airlines aims to be designated as a 5-star, leading Asian airline.  

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Leanne Barton (leanne@frogandwolfpr.com), Nat Frogley (nat@frogandwolfpr.com) or Flora Gandolfo (flora@frogandwolfpr.com) at Frog & Wolf PR.