Global Rankings Highlight 2024’s Most On-Time Airlines

Aeromexico has been named the most on-time global airline in 2024, with 86.7% of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time, according to aviation data firm Cirium. The rankings, released Thursday, reflect the performance of airlines operating across at least three regions.

Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen noted that 2024 presented significant challenges for airlines, including severe weather disruptions and technology outages. “These airlines deserve credit for getting passengers to their destinations on time despite the hurdles,” Bowen said.

Saudia Airlines followed closely in second place with an on-time performance of 86.35%. Delta Air Lines ranked third globally, achieving an 83.46% punctuality rate despite a major operational disruption in July. LATAM Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Azul Airlines also made the top ten, alongside Avianca, Iberia, Scandinavian Airlines, and United Airlines.

Delta emerged as the most punctual carrier in the U.S. and Canada, maintaining an 83.46% on-time rate despite thousands of cancellations caused by a cybersecurity-related outage. United Airlines ranked second regionally at 80.93%, followed by Alaska Airlines with 79.25%. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines completed the top five. Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines, Air Canada, and WestJet filled the remaining positions, with ratings ranging from 76.05% to 70.99%.

Cirium’s regional winners included Japan Airlines, low-cost carrier Iberia Express from Spain, Panama’s Copa Airlines, and South Africa’s FlySafair. Among airports, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh led with 87% of departures leaving on time. Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima and Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport followed with on-time rates above 84%.

Delta’s performance drew particular attention due to the scale of its summer disruptions. Despite claiming the CrowdStrike incident cost it $500 million, Delta managed to secure a top global ranking, reinforcing its strong reputation for operational reliability.

Cirium’s annual rankings, now in their 16th year, continue to serve as a benchmark for airline punctuality worldwide.

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