Global Airlines and Airports Set New Standards for Punctuality in 2025
In a world where time is increasingly precious, punctuality in air travel has become a key indicator of service quality. A new report by Cirium has shed light on which airlines and airports worldwide excelled in on-time performance during 2025, with some surprising contenders taking top honors. For the second consecutive year, Aeromexico has emerged as the world’s most reliable airline, demonstrating exceptional consistency in its operations. The carrier achieved an impressive 90.02% punctuality rate across nearly 189,000 flights, with monthly performance consistently hovering at or above the 90% mark. This remarkable achievement isn’t just about numbers – it represents Aeromexico’s commitment to transforming operational reliability into a core organizational strength that passengers can depend on. Following closely behind were Saudia with an 86.53% on-time rate and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) at 86.09%, both demonstrating strong operational discipline despite the complex challenges facing global aviation.
European skies saw Spanish carrier Iberia Express maintain its dominance for the third consecutive year, achieving an 88.94% punctuality rate across more than 37,000 flights. This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the significant hurdles European aviation faced in 2025, including a major power outage affecting the entire Iberian Peninsula and global software issues impacting the Airbus A320 family – the very aircraft that comprise Iberia Express’s entire fleet. Such resilience in the face of technical challenges speaks volumes about the airline’s operational procedures and contingency planning. The European leaderboard was rounded out by SAS in second place and Austrian Airlines in third, highlighting Northern and Central Europe’s strong showing in reliability metrics. These carriers have demonstrated that even in Europe’s congested airspace and amid challenging weather conditions, maintaining schedule integrity is possible with proper planning and execution.
Regional excellence in punctuality was evident across all continents, with standout performers emerging in every major market. In the Asia Pacific region, Philippine Airlines claimed the top position with an 83.12% on-time arrival rate, navigating the region’s rapid growth and sometimes challenging infrastructure. North American travelers found Delta Airlines to be the most reliable option, posting an 80.90% punctuality score despite operating in some of the world’s busiest airspace. Latin American carrier Copa Airlines impressed with a 90.75% on-time performance, securing first place in its region. Perhaps most notable was FlySafair’s achievement in the Middle East & Africa category, where it topped the rankings with an exceptional 91.06% punctuality rate – the highest regional score globally. These carriers demonstrate that excellence in on-time performance is achievable across vastly different operating environments and market conditions.
When it comes to airports, Chile’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago emerged as the global leader among large airports, achieving an 87.04% on-time performance in 2025. What makes this accomplishment particularly impressive is that SCL managed to improve its punctuality by 4.2% from the previous year while simultaneously undergoing significant expansion. The airport recently opened its new 248,400 m² international Terminal 2, more than doubling its annual passenger capacity from 16 million to 38 million. This demonstrates that growth and operational excellence can go hand in hand with proper planning and execution. European representation in the large airport category came from Norway’s Oslo Gardermoen, which secured fifth place globally with a punctuality score of 86.00%, reinforcing Scandinavia’s strong showing in aviation reliability metrics.
The medium and small airport categories revealed some interesting contenders from regions not typically associated with aviation excellence. Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport claimed the top spot among medium-sized airports, cementing Central America’s growing reputation for aviation efficiency. Finland’s Helsinki-Vantaa was Europe’s highest-ranking medium airport, placing 18th globally – a reminder that size isn’t everything when it comes to operational excellence. In the small airports category, Ecuador’s José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil demonstrated that smaller facilities can achieve world-class reliability, taking first place globally. Norway again showed its aviation prowess with Stavanger Airport (Sola) securing fourth place in this category. These results highlight that excellence in airport operations isn’t limited to the traditional aviation powerhouses or the largest global hubs.
The findings from Cirium’s report offer valuable insights for travelers and the aviation industry alike. For passengers, the data provides a useful guide when selecting airlines and planning connections, potentially reducing travel stress and increasing schedule confidence. For the industry, these benchmarks establish new standards for operational excellence and highlight the practices that lead to consistent reliability. The diverse geographical spread of top performers – from Latin America to Scandinavia, from the Middle East to East Asia – demonstrates that excellence in punctuality is achievable regardless of location, market size, or historical aviation development. As air travel continues to grow globally, these punctuality leaders are setting the pace for what travelers should expect: reliable service that respects the value of their time, delivered consistently across thousands of operations. In an industry where minutes matter, these airlines and airports have proven that precision and reliability can be built into the very fabric of aviation operations.
