The world's most punctual airlines - 2024 aviation champions unveiled
In 2024, the travel industry was hit hard by an unpleasant trend - multiple and extremely varied airline disruptions around the world. This resulted in hundreds of delayed or cancelled flights last year. For this reason, in 2025, it is advisable to choose those carriers that can boast punctual departures and arrivals in 2024.
January 23, 2025 10:31
On 2 January 2025, aviation analytics company Cirium published its annual report ranking the world's most punctual airlines. The company has collected data from as many as 600 sources around the world, including official timetables and various government bodies, civil aviation authorities, airports, airline reservation systems and more.
According to the report, the world's most punctual airline in 2024 was Mexico's national carrier Aeromexico. Saudi Arabia's main carrier Saudia came in second place, and Delta Air Lines of the USA came third. It is worth noting that Iberia Express was the most punctual airline in Europe.
In addition to the airlines, the report also ranked the best performing airports in the world for 2024. Saudi Arabia's Riyadh King Khalid International Airport came in first place, with 86.65% on-time departures.
While the punctuality ratings are based solely on on-time performance statistics, the Cirium Airline Platinum Award assesses the success of an airline's performance from a holistic point of view, covering network complexity, flight volumes and the ability to minimise the impact of disruption on passengers throughout the year. In 2024, Delta Air Lines secured its title and won the Cirium Platinum Award for the fourth consecutive year.
In summary, here are the most punctual airlines and airports in 2024, based on Cirium data:
World's most punctual airlines:
"Aeromexico: 86.70% on-time arrivals
"Saudia: 86.35% on-time arrivals
"Delta Air Lines: 83.46% on-time arrivals
"LATAM Airlines: 82.89% on-time arrivals
"Qatar Airways: 82.83% on-time arrivals
The world's best-performing airports:
"Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH): 86,65% on-time departures
"Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM): 84.57% on-time departures
"Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX): 84,04% on-time departures
"Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): 83,80% on-time departures
"Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport (SCL)": 82,84% on-time departures
Most punctual European airlines:
"Iberia Express: 84.69% on-time arrivals
"Iberia: 81.58% on-time arrivals
"SAS: 81.40% on-time arrivals
"Vueling: 81.20% on-time arrivals
"Norwegian: 79.23% on-time arrivals
Most punctual low-cost carriers:
"Vueling: 81.20% on-time arrivals
"Iberia Express: 84.69% on-time arrivals
"Gol: 84.09% on-time arrivals
"Azul: 82.42% on-time arrivals
"Peach Aviation: 82.32% on-time arrivals
