Malaysia Airlines recognised as a Seven Star PLUS safety rated airline

Malaysia Airlines has achieved the prestigious Seven Star PLUS safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, placing it among an elite group of global carriers recognised for both exceptional cabin safety and operational excellence.

This positions the airline alongside carriers such as Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand, reflecting its strong safety culture and consistently high onboard operational standards.

AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen commented on the recognition: "Particularly notable on this audit was the crew's vigilance in keeping passengers seated whenever the seatbelt sign was on. There were long periods when it remained illuminated, and passengers naturally grow restless or feel the need to move. The Malaysia Airlines crew were diligent throughout, ensuring everyone stayed seated until it was safe. Their emergency exit briefing was equally impressive.

Whilst not a part of the audit process, a visit to the airline's operations afterwards further highlighted the great lengths the airline has gone to, especially in the last 10 years, to really focus on issues relating to crew resource management, human factors and fatigue management. I dare say a lot of airlines could learn from what Malaysia Airlines have done in this area."

On the latest recognition, Bryan Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company for Malaysia Airlines said, “The Seven Star PLUS recognition is a meaningful affirmation of the strong safety culture we have continuously built across Malaysia Aviation Group over the years. What makes this recognition especially significant is the acknowledgement of the operational discipline, crew professionalism and robust safety practices demonstrated consistently across our operations by our teams. At MAG, safety underpins every aspect of our business and remains a shared responsibility embraced by every employee across the organisation. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of our people and reinforces our focus on continuously strengthening operational resilience, enhancing our capabilities, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence for our passengers.”

What does Seven Star PLUS actually mean?

Seven Star PLUS is a safety rating an airline earns, not a badge it can buy or a rank it can simply request. To be eligible, an airline must already hold our Seven Star safety rating, the highest on our scale, and only then can it put itself forward for the audit that leads to Seven Star PLUS recognition.

The airline invites our auditors aboard for an independent and anonymous assessment of its cabin crew safety compliance, observed under normal flight conditions across six separate flights. An airline is recognised as Seven Star PLUS only when it meets our stringent standards across that audit, and not every airline that undertakes it will make the grade. An airline with multiple areas for improvement simply retains its Seven Star safety rating and can be reviewed again within one year once changes have been made.

The value of these audits sits with the airline and the passenger alike. For the airline, the assessment surfaces genuine cabin crew compliance gaps and helps close them early, before they become incidents or regulator findings. A safety team and a chief financial officer both understand the worth of catching a problem in time, and earning the rating gives the airline a credential that carries weight.

For travellers, Seven Star PLUS is a clear signal worth knowing. It marks an airline that opened its cabin operation to independent scrutiny and met the required standard. We hold Seven Star and Seven Star PLUS airlines in the highest safety regard, but the PLUS adds a mark of verified cabin safety compliance, earned by the airlines that chose to be tested.

READ: AirlineRatings’ safety rating methodology

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.”