Etihad becomes first Gulf airline to earn top safety rating

Etihad Airways has today been named the fourth airline globally and the first of the Gulf's big three carriers to achieve the Seven Star PLUS safety rating from AirlineRatings. Available only to airlines already rated Seven Star, it is a mark of verified onboard cabin safety compliance achieved through independent audit.

CEO of AirlineRatings, Sharon Petersen, said, “Etihad has long been synonymous with premium travel, and this recognition underscores the airline’s strong focus on onboard safety and attention to detail. While our audits are centred on cabin safety, they often also provide insight into the safety systems and operational processes that support flight operations—areas in which Etihad clearly excels.

Safety is embedded at the core of Etihad’s operation, and today’s rating upgrade reflects that commitment. We are pleased to confirm Etihad’s inclusion in the elite group of airlines awarded the prestigious Seven-Star PLUS Safety Rating.”

Josh Wood, Safety and Service Quality Manager at AirlineRatings, commented, “It was a privilege to audit one of the world’s leading international airlines and an aviation brand we have long admired.

The onboard safety standards, particularly pre-departure and landing checks, were meticulous and consistently applied. These are precisely the details that make a meaningful difference to cabin safety, and Etihad is to be commended for placing such clear emphasis on this critical area.”

So what does Seven Star PLUS actually mean?

Seven Star PLUS is a safety rating an airline earns, not one it can buy. To be eligible, an airline must already hold our seven star safety rating, the top of our scale. Only then can it put itself forward for the audit that leads to a Seven Star PLUS rating.

The airline invites our auditors aboard for an independent, anonymous assessment of its cabin crew safety compliance, observed under normal flight conditions across six flights. An airline earns Seven Star PLUS only if that audit goes well and stringent standards are met overall. Not every airline that sits it will clear it and a review audit will be conducted within the year. Whilst the airline pays for the service, it does not pay for the result. That distinction matters, because it means the rating reflects what our auditors actually found. An airline with a number of areas for improvement will simply retain their Seven Star safety rating.

The value in these audits sits with both the airline and the passenger. For the airline, the audit catches things early. It finds genuine cabin crew compliance gaps and helps close them before they ever become incidents or regulator findings. A safety team and a CFO both understand the value of catching a problem early. Earning the rating gives the airline a credential that carries weight precisely because it cannot be bought.

For travellers, Seven Star PLUS is a simple signal worth knowing. It marks an airline that already sits at the top of our safety rating, then opened its cabin operation to independent scrutiny and passed.

One thing to be clear about is that an airline without Seven Star PLUS is not unsafe, and it is not ranked below those that hold it. The PLUS indicates a mark of verified cabin safety compliance, earned by the airlines that have chosen to be tested and met the standard.

Why It Matters

With nearly 40% of passengers reporting anxiety or fear of flying, Seven Star PLUS provides a new level of reassurance. While traditional safety metrics focus on aircraft maintenance, operational excellence and regulatory compliance, this new rating highlights the human element specifically how safety is communicated, enacted, and felt onboard.

This initiative complements AirlineRatings mission: “Guiding you to the safest and best value airline for every journey.”

For enquiries on participating in Airline Ratings safety ratings, please contact [email protected]