10. Cathay Pacific

The Hong Kong-based carrier was founded in 1946 and its last fatal accident was in 1972. Since then it has made over one million flights without incident. The company serves more than 100 destinations in 36 different countries, and in 2009 flew almost 25 million passengers safely to different places around the globe.

9. TAP Portugal

In joint eighth place is the national carrier of Portugal, whose last major accident was in 1977. Flying for 65 years, it serves over 30 different countries and makes an average of 1600 flights per week. Perhaps one of its highest points was in 1982, being entrusted with flying Pope John Paul II on his first trip to Portugal. In 2009, nine million passengers did the same.

8. Aerolineas Argentinas

The second of our eighth-placed entrants, and the only South American carrier on this list, is Aerolineas Argentinas. The company can trace its origins back to the 1920s and narrowly survived bankruptcy in the 1990s, with the government taking back ownership two year ago. Despite all this turmoil, the company has ensured that it has remained exceedingly safe for passengers, with no fatal events since 1970. There was, however, one incident of food contaminated with cholera in 1992.

7. Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has been in operation since 1965. Its last accident occurred in 1979, and since then, over 1.5 million flights have passed without fatalities. It regularly wins awards from both consumer and industry panels, and annually carries about 12 million passengers.

6. Aer Lingus

While a small airline, Aer Lingus is the oldest carrier still in operation in Ireland, having been founded in 1936. It currently flies to Europe, Africa and North America. It has gone over 40 years since a fatal accident, and is approaching two million flights since then. Even when we incorporate non-fatal incidents, the last event of note was in 1986. It carriers an estimated 10 million passengers per year.

5. Finnair

With no fatal accidents for almost 50 years Finnair has a remarkable record. While it has been known as Finnair since 1953, its origins are in the 1920s. It is one of the oldest airlines still in operation, and is unique in that it actually flies through the Arctic for much shorter routes to Asia, and flies to 55 international destinations carrying around 10 million passengers.

4. Qantas

Despite having made recent news headlines after two of its planes suffered engine problems, Qantas has had a very successful 90-year history. Founded in Australia in 1920, it is one of the world’s oldest airlines, and flies to 182 destinations in 44 different countries. More than 2.5 million flights have passed without major incident. Skytrax consistently places Qantas among the world’s best airlines.

3. All Nippon Airways

The first entrant into the top three is ANA, the second largest carrier in Japan. Carrying several million passengers each year, ANA flies to 35 different countries and has flown since 1975 without any accidents. It was founded in 1952, and has been consistently recognised for its excellent punctuality, as well as numerous other international awards. The ANA website lists safety as its No. 1 priority, and after so many flights without incident, it is clear this is not simply lip service.

2. Air Canada

Founded in 1936, and flying to 178 destinations worldwide, Air Canada is one of the safest airlines in the world, having made 4.84 million flights since its last fatal accident back in 1983. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this is the most recent fatal accident to befall any of the airlines on our list, but by virtue of having made so many flights since then without incident, it remains an extremely safe choice for nervous passengers. It carries in excess of 35 million passengers each year, and makes around 1400 flights every day.

1. British Airways

With no fatal accidents since 1976, and a staggering six million flights since then, British Airways is a clear winner in the safety stakes. Celebrating its 90th anniversary last year, British Airways is among the oldest airlines still in operation and one of the largest, flying to hundreds of destinations and carrying in excess of 30 to 40 million passengers every year. As safety records go, this is hard to beat.