AirlineRatings.com announces that the safest airline for 2016 is Qantas. It adds that the Aussie carrier held on to the title for the past 3 years because of its 'extraordinary record' with no recorded fatalities since the advent of jet travel.

"Its 95-year history the world's oldest continuously operating airline has amassed an extraordinary record of firsts in operations and safety and is now accepted as the industry's most experienced carrier," the committee noted.

The aviation analysts also named the top 20 safest carriers and the top 10 safest low cost airlines for 2016. Completing the top 20 in alphabetical order are: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airline System, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia.

The 10 safest low-cost airlines for 2016 in alphabetical order are as follows: Aer Lingus, Flybe, HK Express, Jetblue, Jetstar Australia, Thomas Cook, TUI Fly, Virgin America, Volaris and Westjet.

"Our top 20 safest airlines are always at the forefront of safety innovation, operational excellence and the launching of new more advanced aircraft," AirlineRatings.com editor Geoffrey Thomas said in a report published in CNN.

These said airlines are excellent with regard to safety. However, Qantas remains to standout for its best practice and enhancements.

The rating system considers a range of factors that includes audits from aviation governing bodies and lead associations, government audits and the airline's fatality record. The committee also examines the airline's operational history, incident records and operational excellence.

AirlineRatings.com launched its annual listing in 2013. This year, the airline surveyed 407 airlines where 148 have seven-star safety ranking and the 50 have three stars or less. Airlines from Indonesia, Nepal and Surinam have airlines with only one star.