Qantas named world's safest airline

THE Flying Kangaroo has been named as the world's safest airline in what was one of the worst years on record worldwide for the aviation industry.

Qantas beat off a host of international airlines to claim the top gong and its subsidiary Jetstar was named among the 10 safest low-cost carriers.

In compiling its annual report, respected website AirlineRatings.com takes into account a range of factors related to audits from aviation's governing bodies, governments and the airline's fatality record.

Website editor Geoffrey Thomas said Qantas was always at the forefront of safety innovation in the industry.

"There is no doubt that Qantas is a standout in safety and an industry benchmark for best practice," Mr Thomas said.

"Over its 94-year history, Qantas has amassed an extraordinary record of firsts in safety and operations and is now accepted as the world's most experienced airline.

"Qantas has been the lead airline in virtually every major advancement in airline safety over the past six decades."

The report revealed there were 21 crashes worldwide last year, resulting in 986 deaths, including 537 aboard Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17 that claimed numerous Australian lives.

The report says the world's airlines carried a record 3.3 billion passengers on 27 million flights last year. 

Meanwhile Indonesian officials say the black box of AirAsia flight QZ8501 may be buried in the seabed or muddy waters and that may be impeding its signal.

Officials said there was still no sign of the crucial black box flight recorders more than nine days after the plane crashed in the Java Sea while flying to Singapore from Surabaya, Indonesia.

The plane crashed into waters off Borneo on December 28 about 40 minutes into a two-hour flight killing the 162 people onboard.

Bad weather and challenging conditions have hampered the recovery efforts and only 37 bodies have been recovered.

TEN SAFEST AIRLINES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Air New Zealand

Cathay Pacific Airways

British Airways

Emirates

Etihad Airways

EVA Air

Finnair

Lufthansa

Qantas

Singapore Airlines

TOP TEN SAFEST LOW-COST AIRLINES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Aer Lingus

Alaska Airlines

Icelandair

Jetstar

Jetblue

Kulula.com

Monarch Airlines

Thomas Cook

TUI Fly

Westjet