Cirium, the aviation analytics source, recently announced the winners of its 2024 On-Time Performance Review, celebrating airlines and airports that excelled in operational and on-time performance.
Cirium's annual report is the gold standard for analyzing airline and airport performance globally. A punctual flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 14:59 minutes of the scheduled arrival time at the gate. Airports measure punctuality as flights that depart within 14:59 minutes of their scheduled departure time.
Mexico’s flag carrier tops global ranking
Aeroméxico was awarded the prestigious title of the “Most Punctual Global Airline” in 2024, achieving an impressive on-time performance rate of 86.70%. Saudia followed closely in second place with 86.35%, while Delta Air Lines secured third place with 83.46%, thus demonstrating its operational reliability worldwide.
Cirium’s annual report also recognised the operational excellence of airlines around the world, with five regional awards. Iberia Express, a member of the International Airlines Group, succeeded as the most punctual airline in Europe and the most punctual low-cost airline in the world. Japan Airlines took first place in Asia-Pacific, just ahead of All Nippon Airways.
Delta Air Lines continued its dominance in North America, while Copa Airlines achieved its tenth win in Latin America. FlySafair also won the award for the most punctual airline in the Middle East and Africa. The complete tables of results by region and category are presented below.
Riyadh King Khalid Airport takes top award in global airport category
In the airport category, Riyadh King Khalid International Airport – the gateway to the Saudi Arabian capital – claimed the prestigious title of Most Punctual Global Airport this year, with an impressive 86.65% of flights departing on time. The Middle East hub further distinguished itself by taking the win in the Large Airport category, beating out leading contenders from around the world.
The title of "Most Punctual Medium Airport" was awarded to Tocumen International Airport in Panama, home of Latin American winner Copa Airlines, while the winner of the "Small Airport" was José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Special Recognition for Operational Excellence: Cirium Platinum Awards
Delta Air Lines topped the rankings for the fourth consecutive year and received Cirium’s Platinum Award for Global Operational Excellence. This prestigious accolade comes at a time when the Atlanta-based airline continues to be praised for its unwavering commitment to operational performance.
The Platinum award takes into account the airline's network complexity, flight volume and ability to limit the impact of flight disruptions on passengers throughout the year.
The airline was recognized for its on-time performance throughout 2024 with 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 this prestigious 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 attractiveness of the airport, with a particular focus on growth. This holistic approach highlights excellence across multiple dimensions, setting a new benchmark in the assessment of airport performance.
Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium, said: “In an industry defined by operational complexity, we are extremely proud to celebrate the airlines and airports that have delivered the most on-time flights and best performance to customers in 2024, recognising their operational excellence.”
“2024 was a challenging year for airlines as they faced large-scale IT disruption and extreme, unseasonal weather conditions. Despite these challenges, these airlines and airports have worked tirelessly to ensure their customers have a smooth journey and arrive at their destination on time.”
“We extend our congratulations to all of this year’s Punctuality Performance Review winners, each of whom has set new standards in operational excellence. Special recognition goes to Delta Air Lines for continuing its excellent winning streak with the Cirium Platinum Award for airlines, Copa Airlines for achieving its tenth title as the most punctual airline in Latin America, Iberia Express for its consistent performance as the most punctual airline in Europe and Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport for earning the first Cirium Platinum Award for an airport.”
Now in its 16th year, the Cirium On-Time Performance Review remains the definitive benchmark for monitoring airline operational performance globally. Based on Cirium’s vast, unbiased data (sourced from over 600 real-time sources including airlines, airports, global distribution systems and civil aviation authorities), it provides a comprehensive and objective view of the industry. The programme is further enhanced by guidance from an independent advisory board comprised of seasoned industry experts with decades of experience.
Source: Cirium.