Why are bigger planes safer?

Mar 19 2025 MFR travel team

Many people assume that smaller planes are more safe and easy to manage. Actually, the truth is different. Bigger planes are much safer. Airlines use bigger planes because they have more of the latest safety features and can handle rough conditions. If you’re nervous about flying just know why those big planes we see on the runway are safer. It will help you feel better, trust us!

Newer technology

Big planes have this really cool technology that would make every plane geek squeak with excitement! And that same technology keeps everyone safe. They come with the latest radar, auto pilot, weather tools and sensors that are helpful to the pilots, so they can make the smart choices and avoid any danger. One example is that those planes can detect turbulence and adjust the height so it can give you a smoother ride. They also have system that gives a warning to the pilot if another plane gets too close. This makes flying in bigger planes much safer.

Those new bigger planes are made to handle the bad weather, heavy load of luggage and high altitudes. Made stronger and tested in the most extreme conditions like high wind, ice, lightning strike and even hurricane, all in the name to make sure that those can actually handle everything that Mother Nature wants to throw on its way. While the smaller planes are lighter and don’t really go through the same tests which makes it much less safer for travelling.

More experienced pilots

Piloting those big commercial planes requires many hours od training, since they need thousands of hours on end of experience and a tough training program only to fly it in the air. They also have to stay updated on a daily basis with the latest safety features and procedures, just to make them highly skilled at handling the emergencies. On the other hand the smaller planes might be flown by less experienced pilots and that increases the risk of flying.

One of the big safety advantages of those big planes is their backup systems. If one fails then another one is in place to take over. For example, many large planes have multiple engines and if one stops, the others are still working and keep the plane safely in the air, flying high. Bonus – they have multiple navigation, electrical and hydraulic systems that make sure that the plane stays fully functional even when things go wrong. Smaller planes don’t always have this level of backup, making a single failure much more risky.

Safety regulations and maintenance

Now, those huge commercial planes also have to follow really strict rules before they can even have the chance to take off. All airlines must check and maintain their planes on a regular basis just to make sure that it’s all in order and in perfect condition. This involves thoroughly inspecting the engines, wings, landing gear and other import parts.

Every airline must meet the high safety standards by the aviation authorities like the FAA in USA and EASA in Europe. Those agencies always make sure that all commercial aircrafts are safe to fly.

However, those small planes are usually privately owned or used just for personal flights and they might not have to go through the same strict checks and maintenance as big commercial planes.

Higher survival rate

While airplane accidents are very rare, there is still a study showing that passengers have a bigger chance of surviving a crash in a big commercial plane. This is because of those big planes that have stronger structure and more up to date fire protection system, plus well designed emergency exits.

In addition to everything else, commercial planes are built to take a hard landing and the impact force better than the smaller private planes. This added layer of protection increases the chance of surviving in emergency situations.

The all time favorite advantage of the big planes is that they are way more stable and provide us with more comfortable experience while flying. Shoutout to the bigger amount of extra leg room seats. While those small planes are more likely to take the turbulence less safely, because they are lighter and it means that not only the plane is being tossed around left and right in the air, but you are as well.

While looking at those big planes have more weight and much better wing designs that will take you to your destination even through bad weather. That makes the flight so much smoother and comfortable for all passengers.

More resources for emergency situations

Those large aircrafts are equipped with better emergency tools and a very well trained staff that knows how to handle different situations. Each flight has a team of flight attendants ready to help passengers during emergency.

Bonus, the large airports are much more prepared for emergencies that involve the big planes. They have rescue teams that have fire trucks and medical staff on standby. This means another layer of safety is placed to protect passengers.

If you’ve felt nervous about flight at some point in life, just remember that wide-body aircrafts are designed to take you to your destination in complete safety and comfort. They have much better and updated technology, strong structures, very well trained pilots, many backup systems and very strict safety regulations.

While those small planes can be useful for short trips, they don’t really have the same safety structure as commercial aircrafts. Next time you fly on a big airliner rest assured knowing you are on the safest air machine ever built. So, sit down on your seat and relax, it’s all going to be okay.

If you experience a flight delay, cancellation, or luggage issue, MYFLYRIGHT can help. We offer support to get compensation for your troubles and ensure your rights as a passenger are protected. Enjoy your flight!