Frankfurt am Main, January 14, 2026. Vietnam Airlines ranks 19th in AirlineRatings' list of the 25 safest full-service airlines for 2026. This marks a three-place improvement for the airline compared to the previous year, making it the only airline from Vietnam featured on this prestigious list. 

The annual ranking assesses the safety performance of 320 airlines monitored by AirlineRatings worldwide, measuring compliance with international safety standards and long-term operational continuity. Vietnam Airlines' ascent reflects the Vietnamese airline's ongoing commitment to excellent safety and continuous improvement. 

AirlineRatings is the world's leading provider of airline news, passenger, and safety ratings. Its ratings are frequently referenced by airlines, regulators, and industry stakeholders. In the 2026 ranking, Vietnam Airlines joins a group of leading global airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways (ANA), among others. 

Most of the criteria remain unchanged from year to year. These include accident rate, adjusted for the total number of flights, fleet age, serious incidents, pilot training, and international safety audits. New this year, AirlineRatings places a greater emphasis on turbulence avoidance, as it remains the most common cause of in-flight injuries. 

To mitigate turbulence-related risks, Vietnam Airlines utilizes advanced meteorological forecasting, visualization, and analysis systems. These integrate real-time weather data with terrain-specific factors. These tools enable proactive operational planning and provide early warnings to pilots, thereby contributing to improved safety and passenger comfort. 

Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings, said: “Ranking 19th in our 2026 safest airlines list, Vietnam Airlines has further improved its position from 2025. This improvement reflects continuous, measurable progress in fleet quality, safety systems, industry audit performance, a very low accident rate, and overall operational consistency. It is not attributable to a single factor. Furthermore, Vietnam's national aviation oversight, as assessed by ICAO country audits, continues to strengthen, benefiting not only Vietnam-based airlines but also international airlines flying into the country.” 

Dinh Van Tuan, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, said: “A strong safety culture is the cornerstone of sustainable growth in aviation. Vietnam Airlines continuously strengthens risk management, invests in advanced technologies, enhances employee training, and aligns its operations with international best practices. Vietnam Airlines' continued classification as one of the world's safest full-service airlines demonstrates the growing global importance of Vietnamese aviation. Based on safety, quality, and governance according to global standards, Vietnam Airlines remains committed to connecting Vietnam with the world and strengthening the country's reputation as a safe, reliable, and internationally integrated destination.” 

Vietnam Airlines was the first airline in Vietnam to receive IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification and has been continuously IOSA-registered since 2006. The Safety Management System (SMS), introduced in 2007, complies with the highest international safety standards and has been recognized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam as a reference model for other domestic aviation organizations. 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. 

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Vietnam Airlines  

As the only airline, Vietnam Airlines connects Germany non-stop with Vietnam. The Vietnamese airline operates the Frankfurt – Hanoi route daily and the Frankfurt – Ho Chi Minh City route five times a week. Additionally, Vietnam Airlines flies from Munich to Hanoi three times a week and to Ho Chi Minh City twice a week. In total, Vietnam Airlines offers connections to 95 destinations in 17 countries. Vietnam Airlines passengers benefit from optimal connecting flights to over 22 domestic destinations and other destinations in Indochina, Asia, and Australia. In total, 55 international and 40 national connections are on the flight schedule. When booking long-haul and connecting flights simultaneously, Vietnam Airlines offers more than 50 percent discount on all onward flights compared to official fares. The airline is an official member of IATA and has renewed its international IOSA safety certification for the tenth time. Vietnam Airlines operates with a safety management system that complies with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).   

Further information at www.vietnamairlines.com. 

SkyTeam  

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance committed to transforming the future of travel by enabling the smartest and most integrated journey for its customers. With a focus on innovation and responsibility, SkyTeam and its members work together to connect customers across a comprehensive global network of more than 1,000 destinations. SkyTeam offers over 750 airport lounges, the award-winning SkyPriority airport service, and makes travel even more enjoyable through member frequent flyer programs. SkyTeam members are Aeroflot (suspended), Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, SAS, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and XiamenAir. More information at www.skyteam.com.   

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