The German-based Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Center (JACDEC) listed Europe's top airlines for 2016 with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways taking the top spot followed by Air New Zealand and Hainan Airlines. Meanwhile, China Airlines in Taiwan, Avianca Colombia and Garuda Indonesia Airlines takes the bottom spots as the safest airlines of the year.
According to JACDEC's preliminary 2017 data, Cathay Pacific Airways has the safest flights and emergency flight systems in the country. The Hong Kong based airline has recently partnered with Hertz as a car rental provider for two years. The airline is followed by Air New Zealand despite a hijacking that happened earlier in 2016. This is the first time the New Zealand airlines reached the top 10 top safest airlines in the world.
Hainan Airlines, third in the list, is pursuing new routes for its flights. One is an Auckland-Shenzhen route; the direct flights benefitting better convenience for New Zealand travelers headed to China as this would be the only existing airline traversing the route.
In Europe, two German airlines took the top score for Europe. According to The Local Germany -- citing data from JACDEC's 2017 preliminary data -- Lufthansa is the second safest airline in the Europe followed by Air Berlin as the 20th best airline worldwide and second best European airline. The news website said JACDEC commented, "There is direct correlation between the safety of an airline and the competence and transparency of the controlling authorities."
Qatar Airlines remained at its number four position while KLM had risen one position as Hainan Airlines moved to number three. UAE's Emirates -- which was at number two last year -- failed severely dropping five positions to being the seventh best airline in the world.
JACDEC takes 60 of the world's best aviation companies and rates them based on the number of accident-free years, fatalities and governance transparency with both government and regulations. The data from JACDEC's 2017 Safety Rankings has yet to be complete as it will still evaluate aviation activities during the fourth quarter of 2016.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
