Virgin Blue has been voted Australia’s best overall airline in a poll of more than four thousand recent flyers by leading consumer group Choice.

The survey of 4,307 airline passengers, who flew domestically in the last three years, found the budget carrier had an overall satisfaction rating of 68 per cent.

Virgin Blue relegated previous 2007 winner Regional Express tosecond-place, followed by Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger Airways.

A series of mechanical mishaps appear to have reduced confidence in the flying kangaroo, with 17 per cent of respondents choosing Qantas domestically because of its safety record, down five per cent on its 2007 score.

But despite this, more respondents nominated safety as a reason to fly with the beleaguered airline than with any other.