On-time performance has always been one of the key factors appreciated by air travel, impacting the lives of millions of air travellers every day. In Cirium's 2025 On-Time Performance Review, more than 1.8 million flights were considered to rank airlines and airports. An airline is said to be punctual if its flight arrives or departs within a time frame of 15 minutes, denoting the landing's benefit and support. This year, worldwide leaders like Qatar Airways, Aeromexico, and Delta Air Lines were at the top, and in the Asia-Pacific leaderboard, IndiGo, from India, secured a position in the top 10. Yet, with certain operational issues in Dec. 2025, the airline recorded a considerable 78.12% rate for arriving flights in a reduced total of 802,418 flights.
What are the most punctual airlines and airports in 2025
The
2025 Cirium On-Time Performance Review shows that global and regional leaders maintain schedules despite operational challenges. While Qatar Airways, Aeromexico, and Delta dominate globally, IndiGo demonstrates that Indian carriers can compete on punctuality in the Asia-Pacific region. Travellers seeking reliable journeys in 2026 can now consider these rankings as a guide for selecting airlines and airports that prioritise efficiency, timeliness, and consistent operational excellence.
Top global airlines of 2025
| Rank | Airline | On-Time Arrivals | Total Flights |
|---|
| 1 | Aeromexico (AM) | 90.02% | 188,859 |
|---|
| 2 | Saudia (SV) | 86.53% | 202,864 |
|---|
| 3 | SAS (SK) | 86.09% | 249,674 |
|---|
| 4 | Azul (AD) | 85.18% | 304,625 |
|---|
| 5 | Qatar Airways (QR) | 84.42% | 198,303 |
|---|
| 6 | Iberia (IB) | 83.52% | 188,447 |
|---|
| 7 | LATAM Airlines (LA) | 82.40% | 580,707 |
| 8 | Avianca (AV) | 81.73% | 266,921 |
| 9 | Turkish Airlines (TK) | 81.41% | 421,087 |
| 10 | Delta Air Lines (DL) | 80.90% | 1,800,086 |
Asia-Pacific airlines: IndiGo among top 10
| Rank | Airline | On-Time Arrivals | Total Flights |
| 1 | Philippine Airlines (PR) | 83.12% | 116,268 |
| 2 | Air New Zealand (NZ) | 79.29% | 171,216 |
| 3 | ANA (NH) | 78.88% | 309,998 |
| 4 | Singapore Airlines (SQ) | 78.58% | 121,293 |
| 5 | JAL (JL) | 78.25% | 313,410 |
| 6 | IndiGo (6E) | 78.12% | 802,418 |
| 7 | Cathay Pacific (CX) | 76.78% | 119,193 |
| 8 | Virgin Australia (VA) | 76.54% | 155,038 |
| 9 | Qantas (QF) | 76.51% | 276,859 |
| 10 | Korean Air (KE) | 75.34% | 133,252 |
Most punctual airports of 2025
| Category | Airport | On-Time Departures | Total Flights |
|---|
| Large | Santiago Arturo Merino B. Intl (SCL) | 87.04% | 153,326 |
| Medium | Panama Tocumen Intl (PTY) | 93.34% | 148,065 |
| Small | Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo Intl (GYE) | 91.47% | 34,068 |
What defines airline and airport punctuality
Cirium uses on-time performance measured through arrivals within 15 minutes of schedule and departures within 15 minutes to assess efficiency. Airports are carefully evaluated on operational difficulty, potential disruption impact on passengers, and overall effectiveness in handling high volumes of passenger traffic. These rigorous criteria, combined with factors such as weather challenges, air traffic complexity, and infrastructure quality, have set a reliable global standard for airline and airport rankings, helping travellers and industry professionals better understand overall performance and operational excellence.
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