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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
ATT Desk Report 
