The world’s most punctual airlines and airports in 2024 have been revealed by aviation analytics company Cirium in the “2024 On-Time Performance Review“, considered the gold standard for global airline and airport performance analytics.
The annual report, now in its 16th edition, comprises Cirium’s vast and impartial data sourced from over 600 real-time feeds, including airlines, airports, global distribution systems and civil aviation authorities. An on-time flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 14:59 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival time. Airports measure punctuality as departing flights within 14:59 minutes of their scheduled departure time.
“2024 was a difficult year for airlines, facing a large-scale IT outage and unseasonable and severe weather patterns. Despite these challenges, these airlines and airports have worked tirelessly to ensure their customers have a smooth journey and reach their destination on-time”, said Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen while congratulating the winners.
1. Most punctual airlines
Aeromexico claimed the prestigious title of the most On-Time “Global Airline” in 2024, achieving an impressive On-Time performance rate of 86.70%. Saudia followed closely as the runner-up with 86.35%, while Delta Air Lines secured third place with 83.46%, continuing to showcase its operational reliability on the world stage.
Cirium’s Annual Review also acknowledges the operational excellence of airlines across the world, with five regional awards. Iberia Express, member of the International Airlines Group, had success as both the most On-Time airline in Europe and the most On-Time Low-Cost airline globally. Japan Airlines ranked first within Asia-Pacific, just slightly ahead of All Nippon Airways.
Delta Air Lines continued its dominance in North America, while Copa Airlines achieved a landmark 10th win in Latin America. FlySafair also won most On-Time airline in the Middle East and Africa.
2. Most punctual airports
In the Airport categories, Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, the gateway to Saudi Arabia’s capital, claimed this year’s prestigious title of the most On-Time “Global Airport” with an impressive 86.65% of flights departing on time. The Middle Eastern hub further distinguished itself by securing victory in the “Large Airport” category, outperforming top contenders from around the world.
The title of most On-Time “Medium Airport” was awarded to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport – the home base for Latin American winner Copa Airlines, while the “Small Airport” winner was Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Ecuador.
3. Special recognitions
Delta Air Lines topped the table for a fourth consecutive year, landing Cirium’s Platinum Award for global operational excellence. The Platinum award considers the complexity of the carrier’s network, volume of flights and the ability to limit the impact of flight disruptions on passengers over the entire year. The Atlanta-based carrier was recognized for its on-time performance over the course of 2024 at 83.46%, on more than 1,712,529 total flights in 2024.
This year, Cirium also presented its first annual Platinum Award to a global airport, with El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia receiving the award. The Airport Platinum Award considers a broader range of factors, including the impact of delays on passengers, the duration of disruptions, operational complexity and the airport’s appeal, with a particular focus on growth.
