The Essentials

Airline Safety: a New Ranking

While the investigation into the Boeing 737 Max is continuing, there is some good news for airline safety.

Airlineratings.com released its 2019 ranking of the safest airlines in the world based on accident records, safety initiatives and age of fleet.

Australian airline Qantas takes the number one spot this year. The airline has never had a fatality in the jet era, and it leads in almost all major safety initiatives.

Air New Zealand comes in second and Alaska Air came in third for airline safety. Three other U.S. carriers cracked the top 20: American, Hawaiian, and United.

United and American did not make the top 20 last year, but they’re back after lowering the average age of their fleets this year.