Airline Ratings is pleased to announce that Air Europa has become the first airline in Europe to achieve the prestigious Seven Star PLUS Safety Rating, recognising its exceptional commitment to operational and onboard safety. As the airline nears 40 years of flying, this safety achievement underscores why it is one of the world's leading hybrid airlines.
The success of its recent onboard cabin safety audit now elevates the airline into a select group of prestigious Seven Star PLUS carriers, including the likes of Etihad Airways and Cathay Pacific.
Josh Wood, Safety and Service Quality Manager at AirlineRatings.com, said Air Europa demonstrated a high level of consistency across the flights assessed.
“What stood out was that regardless of flight length, the same high safety standards were applied and executed consistently. Situations involving turbulence were particularly well managed, with additional measures, such as locking the toilets, evident on every flight. Whilst these measures are not mandatory, they do represent an extra level of safety and this is precisely what we expect from a Seven Star PLUS Safety Rated airline.”
Wood added that the results also challenge a common misconception among passengers.
“There is sometimes a perception that low-cost or hybrid carriers compromise on safety. This is simply not the case. The Air Europa audit, along with others we have conducted, demonstrates that these airlines can in fact be leaders in onboard safety.”
CEO of AirlineRatings.com, Sharon Petersen, said, “We are delighted to recognise Air Europa with our Seven Star PLUS Safety Rating. Its accident-free history is further reinforced by a successful onboard cabin safety audit, giving passengers added reassurance that safety is consistently prioritised and verified, including at the frontline of passenger safety in the cabin. This is especially significant in modern air travel, where the leading cause of passenger injury is turbulence.”
What is the Seven Star PLUS safety rating?
The Seven Star PLUS rating is Airline Ratings highest safety accolade. It serves as a mark of trust for passengers, demonstrating that an airline not only meets global safety standards, as recognised by a Seven Star Safety Rating, but also upholds these standards in the cabin which is the frontline of safety from a passenger perspective.
To achieve the PLUS rating, airlines must demonstrate consistent excellence across all 70 audit points across six flights. The audit anonymously evaluates a wide range of operational practices, including safety demonstrations, crew positioning, turbulence management, excellence in pre-departure and pre-landing checks and passenger compliance monitoring.*
The process provides valuable operational insight, allowing airlines to receive immediate feedback and implement improvements. Where areas for improvement are identified, the rapid feedback cycle means a re-audit can take place in as little as six months.
This initiative complements Airline Ratings mission of: “Guiding you to the safest and best value airline for every journey.”
About Air Europa
From its main hub in Madrid, Air Europa serves destinations across the Americas and Europe with a fleet of 47 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 737 aircraft, boasting an average age of just 7.8 years. It is the third-largest Spanish airline, after Iberia and Vueling and the first to be recognised as a Seven Star PLUS safety rated airline.
This year, the airline will celebrate its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of continuous accident-free flying.
On Air Europa’s Seven Star PLUS achievement, José Salazar, Vice President of Safety and Compliance Monitoring commented, “Achieving the Seven Star PLUS Safety Rating is a milestone that highlights Air Europa’s strong safety culture and the exceptional dedication of our people. It reaffirms our commitment to providing the safest and most reliable experience for our passengers.”
For enquiries or further details, please contact Safety and Quality Manager Josh Wood at [email protected].
* The audits are conducted by Airline Ratings’ own team and are independent of airline influence, ensuring the results reflect genuine passenger experience.
Have questions or want to share your thoughts?
