Which airlines have the fewest delays? Here are the outcomes for 2024

Aeromexico was probably the most punctual airline on the planet in 2024, based on a report by aviation analytics firm Cirium.

About 86.7% of the flights tracked arrived “on time,” meaning they arrived inside quarter-hour of the scheduled arrival time.

This result was “absolute” A surprise, Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen told Squawk Box Asia on Friday.

“They had a remarkable year,” he said. “They increased their punctuality performance… by a whopping 9%. To go from outside the top 10 to No. 1 is pretty unprecedented.”

Bowen attributed Aeromexico's rise to its corporate culture, investments in latest equipment and its relationship with its hub at Mexico City International Airport, which ranked fourth amongst airports worldwide in Cirium's report for on-time flights. When each an airline and its hub perform well, “it's because they're working together effectively as a team,” he said.

Saudia (formerly generally known as Saudi Arabian Airlines) ranked second amongst global airlines – up from ninth within the yr Cirium's 2023 rankings – According to the report published on Thursday, 86.35% of flights arrived on time.

According to Cirium, Delta Air Lines (83.46%) took third place, followed by Latam Airlines (82.89%) and Qatar Airways (82.83%).On-time performance review 2024.” For the fourth yr in a row, Cirium recognized Delta because the “Best Global Airline for Operational Excellence” in recognition of its timeliness and size. It is certainly one of the most important airlines on the planet.

Overall, on-time flight arrivals in 2024 fell 0.5% in comparison with the previous yr, Bowen said.

He said the CrowdStrike software update, which by chance grounded 1000’s of flights, particularly those of Delta Air Lines, had hurt the industry's overall timeliness.

“We also had a lot of unusual weather conditions around the world,” he said.

Punctuality is a critical think about passenger satisfaction and a very important health check metric for the airline industry. Delays often increase costs for airlines while reducing crew morale, especially amongst those that interact directly with travelers searching for answers to delays.

The report also analyzed the on-time performance of regional airlines, with some achieving the next on-time rate than the list of worldwide airlines.

According to the report, South African airline Safair landed around 93.82% of its scheduled flights on time. Oman Air did the identical on 90.27% of its flights, as did Copa Airlines, Panama's flagship carrier (88.22%), and Royal Jordanian Airlines (87.02%).

In Europe, Iberia Express (84.69%) and Iberia (81.58%) took 1st and 2nd place, in addition to in Cirium's 2023 punctuality rating.

Japan's two largest airlines – Japan Airlines (80.90%) and All Nippon Airways (80.62%) – once more topped the Asia-Pacific list, but on-time rates for each declined last yr starting in 2023, based on Cirium back.

Delta Air Lines ranked first in North America, followed by United Airlines (80.93%) and Alaska Airlines (79.25%).

According to Cirium's annual report, King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia ranked first amongst global airports with greater than 86% of its flights departing on time in 2024.

Flights that depart inside quarter-hour of the scheduled departure time are considered on-time flights at airports.

Tocumen International Airport in Panama (90.34%) topped the rating of medium-sized airports, while Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Ecuador (91.38%) was named probably the most punctual small airport on the planet, the report showed.

Here are Cirium's top five finishes in 2024:

Global airlines

1. Aeromexico – 86.7%
2. Saudi Arabia – 86.35%
3. Delta Air Lines – 83.46%
4. Latam Airlines – 82.89%
5. Qatar Airways – 82.83%

Europe

1. Iberia Express (Spain) – 84.69% (No. 1 in 2023)
2. Iberia (Spain) – 81.58%
3. Scandinavian Airlines – 81.4%
4. Vueling Airlines (Spain) – 81.2%
5. Norwegian – 79.23%

Middle East and Africa

1. Safair (South Africa) – 93.82%
2. Oman Air – 90.27% (No. 1 in 2023)
3. Royal Jordanian Airlines – 87.02%
4. Saudi Arabia – 86.35%
5. Kuwait Airways – 84.63%

Asia Pacific

1. Japan Airlines – 80.9%
2. All Nippon Airways – 80.62% (No. 1 in 2023)
3. Singapore Airlines – 78.67%
4. Air New Zealand – 77.58%
5. Thai AirAsia – 77.46%

North America

1. Delta Air Lines – 83.46% (No. 1 in 2023)
2. United Airlines – 80.93%
3. Alaska Airlines – 79.25%
4. American Airlines – 77.78%
5. Southwest Airlines – 77.77%

Latin America

1. Copa Airlines (Panama) – 88.22% (No. 1 in 2023)
2. Aeromexico – 86.7%
3. Caribbean Airlines – 85.47%
4. Gol Linhas Aereas (Brazil) – 84.09%
5. Argentine Airlines – 83.06%

Low cost airline

1. Iberia Express (Spain) – 84.69%
2. Gol (Brazil) – 84.09%
3. Azul Airlines (Brazil) – 82.42%
4. Peach Aviation (Japan) – 82.32%
5. Vueling Airlines (Spain) – 81.2%