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Expert view, On-Time Performance

Middleweight champions: medium-sized airports are soaring high in on-time departures

February 14, 2024

Medium-sized airports often find themselves in a unique position – big enough to serve a significant volume of passengers, yet small enough to avoid some of the logistical nightmares that come with mega-airport status.



James Hetzel, Product Marketing Director, Cirium

In the bustling world of aviation, medium-sized airports often find themselves in a unique position – big enough to serve a significant volume of passengers, yet small enough to avoid some of the logistical nightmares that come with mega-airport status. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on these middleweight champions, particularly those that have demonstrated exceptional performance in on-time departures throughout 2023, serving between 15,000,000 and 25,000,000 travelers annually worldwide.

Our annual report highlights the top 20 airports worldwide in this category. The data clearly shows that there are several medium-sized airport hubs that excel in departure on-time performance.

Leading the pack and taking the #1 ranking is Osaka International Airport (ITM), the regional gateway for Japan’s Kansai region, boasting a departure performance of 90.71% on over 130,000 flights for the year.

Deserving of honorable mention, is Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama, a gateway airport to the Americas, with a departure OTP of 90.51% on over 121,000 flights. Also ranking high is Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru, with a departure OTP of 89.10% on over 150,000 flights.

These top performers are accompanied by numerous other medium-sized airports that have demonstrated impressive on-time departure performance. Congratulations to Osaka International Airport for their exceptional performance!

While ensuring on-time departures is crucial, it is equally important to adopt a comprehensive approach to airport management. The exemplary performance of medium-sized airports in 2023 has demonstrated that success stems from a combination of robust infrastructure, strategic partnerships, economic growth, and a culture of innovation. This serves as a valuable lesson for airports of all sizes, emphasizing the significance of embracing these principles.


Report highlights

  • Delta Air Lines celebrates its third consecutive year as Cirium’s Platinum Award winner for global operational excellence.
  • Avianca Airlines emerges as the global leader in punctuality.
  • Delta Air Lines also comes out on top in North America, with Iberia Express leading in Europe, Copa in Latin America, ANA in Asia Pacific, and Oman Air in the Middle East and Africa. Safair triumphs as the leading low-cost carrier.
  • Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport stands out as the top global airport performer in 2023.
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