According to the AirAdvisor Airline Safety Score, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines are all the safest. Each had a perfect accident record in 2022 and had no reported incidents based on data from IATA.

In 2026, both Southwest and American Airlines maintain elite-level safety records and are considered among the safest carriers in the world. Safety in the modern era is measured by rigorous FAA audits, IATA Operational Safety Audits (IOSA), and the lack of fatal accidents. Southwest Airlines has an incredible historical record with zero fatal crashes involving its modern jet fleet, a testament to its strictly maintained single-aircraft-type (Boeing 737) fleet. American Airlines, as one of the world's largest carriers, operates a more diverse fleet and maintains a "Gold Standard" for pilot training and aggressive fleet modernization, which includes the latest in-cockpit weather radar and collision avoidance technology. While American has a longer historical timeline with more incidents due to its sheer size and age, both airlines currently utilize the same sophisticated safety management systems (SMS). When choosing between the two in 2026, the "safety gap" is virtually non-existent; both airlines are subject to the same stringent federal regulations that make U.S. commercial aviation the safest form of travel in history.