Hawaii Fliers Get Rare Double Win in New Airline Ranking

Two airlines that serve Hawaii just ranked at the top of a new global airline safety report. The list highlights Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines as the two highest-rated U.S.-based carriers, placing them above all the other major domestic names in the category of “full-service airlines.”

The Airline Ratings results from their study evaluated over 385 airlines based on serious incident records, safety audits, fleet age, and pilot training systems.

Hawaiian landed at number 12 worldwide, and Alaska came in at number 9.

Both carriers are now the key players in Hawaii travel, controlling over fifty percent of all flights to the islands. Hawaiian is also the leading interisland airline. Alaska has steadily expanded service from the West Coast and is now in the final process of integrating Hawaiian, which it recently purchased.

The timing of this ranking adds weight.

This report comes as many Hawaii visitors are rethinking who they fly with. The Alaska purchase of Hawaiian has created uncertainty. At the same time, Southwest (ranked 9th in low-cost carriers worldwide) is in the middle of a company-wide overhaul—changing how bags, boarding, and seat assignments work—while pulling dozens of Hawaii flights and walking back much of its Hawaii expansion. But safety doesn’t get to be optional—and in that category, Alaska and Hawaiian are leading while others fall behind.

What stands out most is that this year’s two safest U.S. airlines are the two most committed to Hawaii routes. The other major players—Delta, American, and United—ranked far lower. Delta came in at #17 globally, American at #18, and United at #25. That puts Hawaiian and Alaska above them internationally and at the top domestically.

This isn’t a fluke. Hawaiian has never had a fatal accident and no hull-loss incidents. Alaska has also had no fatal accidents in its mainline fleet since 2000. All major carriers flying long-haul overwater routes must meet strict FAA ETOPS standards, and consistent execution separates the best.

What goes into this kind of ranking.

AirlineRatings.com isn’t a consumer review site. It doesn’t factor in passenger satisfaction, cabin service, or on-time performance. Instead, its methodology focuses strictly on operational safety data.

That includes fatality-free records, serious incident history, IATA Operational Safety Audits (IOSA) results, ICAO country audits, fleet age, and pilot training systems. It does not evaluate day-to-day reliability, maintenance speed, or crew performance—only broader safety benchmarks tied to regulatory and historical performance.

That makes this one of the more data-driven airline rankings available. It also means there’s less marketing spin—and fewer surprises when some of the industry’s biggest brands fall short.

Why this story matters now.

Airline shifts affecting Hawaii have come fast—route cuts, fleet changes, and shifting service models. But safety doesn’t always get the same attention. This ranking puts it back in focus.

For travelers heading to or from Hawaii, this confirms that two of the most relied-upon airlines also lead in safety performance. That’s not, by any measure, a guarantee of comfort or perks, but it’s a valuable data point in a time when trust in the airline industry is running low.

What we’ll be watching next.

The safety ranking comes as Alaska and Hawaiian work toward final integration under a single operating certificate. The purchase is complete, but how the two airlines unify operations will shape what Hawaii travelers experience next.

Both continue to lead the industry in safety performance for full-service airlines, which sets a clear benchmark for what’s next. We invite your comments.