Numbers
Several US airlines have the distinction of never experiencing a crash. These include Southwest, American Trans Air, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue.
Percentages
Airlines are also rated in terms of their percentage of fatal events as a function of total miles traveled. Using this metric, the Consumer Warning Network ranks Southwest the safest airline with zero fatalities, followed by Delta with .17 fatalities per million miles traveled.
Planes
Among the common plane types in use by US airlines today, the Airbus A320 has the best safety record with .13 fatalities per million miles flown. Its closest rival is the ATR 42/72, with .33 fatalities. US Airways is among the airlines to have the most Airbus A320s in its fleet.
Worldwide Average
The worldwide average for airline fatalities is .24 deaths per million miles. Set against this number, United States airlines with a batter-than-average record include Southwest, Delta and Northwest. Continental Airlines is right at the .24 average.
Safe Streaks
Airlines change safety policies over time and frequently add new planes to their fleets. It can therefore be useful to examine how long it has been since an airline experienced a crash or another fatal event. Besides those with no-crash record, Midwest Express holds the record for no crashes since 1985. Next is Aloha Airlines, which has not crashed since 1989.
