Image: Yle

After Finnair came Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates and Etihad.

"Of course we are pleased, as safety is the kind of thing where you can’t compromise," said Finnair communications chief Arja Suominen. "We invest a lot in it. Finnair is the fifth oldest airline in the world, and experience helps in safety issues."

JACDEC bases Finnair’s position on its accident record: the firm's last accident was in the 1960s. The company also has relatively few near misses and other incidents.

Taiwan-based China Airlines is ranked last out of the 60 airlines in the rankings. It has lost eight planes, killing 755 passengers, over the last 30 years.

Finnair is the only European airline in the top five. TAP Portugal is in seventh place, British Airways is 10 and Lufthansa is 11.

In last year’s JACDEC rankings Finnair was ranked second.