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 remains consistent year on year and considers 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.
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.