- 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.
LONDON, JANUARY 2, 2024 – In an industry synonymous with operational complexity, Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, today announces its much-anticipated 2023 On-Time Performance Review that celebrates operating excellence. This year’s winners, hailing from every corner of the globe, have not only risen to the occasion but have set new benchmarks in operational performance and punctuality.
Delta Air Lines has been honored with the Cirium Platinum Award for the third year running, a demonstration of its commitment to operational performance and minimizing passenger disruption.
Along with Delta winning the Cirium Platinum Award, the airline also topped the rankings for being the most on-time airline in North America. The coveted position of the most on-time Global airline went to Avianca Airlines, based in Bogota, Colombia. The winners in the other regions are ANA for Asia Pacific, Oman Air for the Middle East and Africa, Copa in Latin America, and Iberia Express in Europe. Safair was the leading low-cost carrier and Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport was the top airport performer globally. More in-depth results are available below and download the 2023 On-Time Performance Review for the full results.
An on-time flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival. For an airport, it is defined as departing within 15 minutes of its scheduled departure.
“Their relentless pursuit of efficiency and punctuality is commendable as we venture into 2024, a year brimming with promise for the aviation sector.
Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium, remarks, “It’s incredible to witness Delta Air Lines winning its third consecutive Platinum Award and topping the North American Category. Other airline and airport winners steered through the year’s operational hurdles with exceptional performance. Their relentless pursuit of efficiency and punctuality is commendable as we venture into 2024, a year brimming with promise for the aviation sector.”
Now in its 15th year, the Cirium On-Time Performance program continues to meticulously monitor global airline operational performance. Our extensive and unbiased data, derived from over 600 real-time information sources, is essential for industry stakeholders. Our data encompasses airlines, airports, global distribution systems, civil aviation authorities, and more, ensuring a comprehensive and neutral perspective.
“The company’s data and analytics are based on the widest and deepest pool of information collected and curated from more than 600 sources of real-time flight information.
Cirium is continuing to lead the way, worldwide, in monitoring aviation on-time performance in the New Year, as the industry adjusts to post-pandemic norms. The company’s data and analytics are designed to provide industry stakeholders with a neutral, third-party perspective, based on the widest and deepest pool of information collected and curated from more than 600 sources of real-time flight information.
These include the airlines themselves, airports, global distribution systems, positional data, civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, proprietary data partnerships and the internet. Cirium’s on-time performance data is backed by a completely independent board of advisors, comprised of industry experts with an unbiased view of the aviation sector. The board’s oversight ensures accuracy and proper representation of all the information the company presents.
Download the full 2023 On-Time Performance report, to view the rankings in detail.
The results for 2023 for the top 5 performers in all categories
Global airline leaders were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| Avianca Airlines (AV) | 1 | 85.73% | 213,039 |
| Azul Airlines (AD) | 2 | 85.51% | 310,972 |
| Qatar Airways (QR) | 3 | 85.11% | 183,090 |
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | 4 | 84.72% | 1,635,486 |
| Iberia (IB) | 5 | 84.38% | 170,750 |
The top performing global airports of 2023 were:
| Airport | On time ranking | On time departure | Total flights |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) | 1 | 84.44% | 289,817 |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) | 2 | 84.42% | 168,426 |
| Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) | 3 | 84.08% | 237,461 |
| El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | 4 | 84.01% | 292,486 |
| Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 5 | 83.99% | 226,705 |
In North America the leading airlines were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | 1 | 84.72% | 1,635,486 |
| Alaska Airlines (AS) | 2 | 82.25% | 404,925 |
| American Airlines (AA) | 3 | 80.61% | 1,998,844 |
| United Airlines (UA) | 4 | 80.04% | 1,513,432 |
| Southwest Airlines (WN) | 5 | 76.26% | 1,459,926 |
In Europe the leading airlines were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| Iberia Express (I2) | 1 | 84.58% | 40,985 |
| Iberia (IB) | 2 | 84.38% | 170,750 |
| Austrian Airlines (OS) | 3 | 82.99% | 113,587 |
| LOT Polish Airlines (LO) | 4 | 82.83% | 96,112 |
| Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) | 5 | 82.75% | 82,791 |
In Latin America the leading airlines were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| Copa Airlines (CM) | 1 | 89.46% | 115,657 |
| Avianca Airlines (AV) | 2 | 85.73% | 213,039 |
| Azul Airlines (AD) | 3 | 85.51% | 310,972 |
| LATAM Airlines (LA) | 4 | 84.00% | 508,721 |
| Caribbean Airlines (BW) | 5 | 81.73% | 26,644 |
In Asia Pacific the leading airlines were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| All Nippon Airways (NH) | 1 | 82.75% | 302,279 |
| Japan Airlines (JL) | 2 | 82.58% | 308,302 |
| Thai AirAsia (FD) | 3 | 82.52% | 113,871 |
| IndiGo (6E) | 4 | 82.12% | 678,446 |
| Air New Zealand (NZ) | 5 | 79.68% | 175,876 |
In the Middle East and Africa the leading airlines were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| Oman Air (WY) | 1 | 92.53% | 45,908 |
| Safair (FA) | 2 | 92.36% | 55,444 |
| Royal Air Jordanian (RJ) | 3 | 87.51% | 32,706 |
| Qatar Airways (QR) | 4 | 85.11% | 183,090 |
| Etihad Airways (EY) | 5 | 82.90% | 65,376 |
The leading low-cost carriers were:
| Airline | On time ranking | On time arrival | Total flights |
| Safair (FA) | 1 | 92.36% | 55,444 |
| Azul Airlines (AD) | 2 | 85.51% | 310,972 |
| Hong Kong Express (UO) | 3 | 85.23% | 23,761 |
| Jetstar Japan (GK) | 4 | 84.60% | 33,932 |
| Iberia Express (I2) | 5 | 83.58% | 40,985 |
Download the full 2023 On-Time Performance report, to view the rankings in detail.
For media enquiries please contact: media@cirium.com
About Cirium
Cirium is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. Through powerful data and analytics, coupled with decades of industry experience, Cirium is enabling airlines, airports, travel companies, aircraft manufacturers, and financial institutions, amongst others, to make intelligent and informed decisions that improve operations, grow revenues, and enhance customer experiences.
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