Deltareceived the Platinum Award for Operational Excellence for the fourth consecutive year, and the 2024 award for North America’s most on-time airline for the seventh year. The airline achieved an On-Time performance rate of 83.46% operating over 1.7 million flights last year, demonstrating its ability to consistently navigate the challenges of airline operations, and delivering a positive passenger experience.
Cirium’s Platinum Award goes beyond just on-time performance, factoring in network complexity, flight volume, and the airline’s ability to manage disruptions while minimizing passenger impact. Delta’s continued success in earning this award, even amid recent industry challenges, underscores its resilience and commitment to operational excellence.
At the annual 2-day Delta LEAD 2025 Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Cirium was invited to be part of the airlines’ 100th year centennial celebration and present the awards.
Delta LEAD 2025 brought together over 7,000 leaders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a high-energy, in-person gathering focused on celebrating the achievements of 2024 and setting the course for the year ahead. This annual conference serves as a pivotal moment for teams from every region and department to connect, collaborate, and align on the strategic vision that will drive continued success.
Mike Malik, Chief Marketing Officer of Cirium, presented Delta’s award to Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines and six frontline employees representing various departments in the company who keep Delta running on-time.
Delta’s focus on people, processes, and technology keeps it at the forefront of operational excellence. By consistently delivering on its commitment to reliability and the customer experience, Delta sets the standard for the industry, proving once again why it remains a leader in the airline industry.
Mike Malik
Congratulations to the entire Delta team! This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of everyone who keeps Delta running smoothly, ensuring passengers get where they need to be—on time and with a great experience. It’s a standard that pushes the entire industry forward.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
Manchester, 28 January 2024: Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the largest UK airport group which owns and operates Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted airports, has entered into an agreement with aviation analytics firm, Cirium.
The multi-year deal will see MAG utilize a range of Cirium’s analytics and solutions – including EmeraldSky CO2 flight emissions and on-time performance data, Diio market intelligence, and Ascend Fleets Analyzer, providing a holistic approach to enhance operational efficiency.
The deal will enable the Group to make quicker and better-informed decisions using Cirium data and analytics, advancing strategic planning and post-operations analysis to ensure a better customer experience.
In a first for a leading tier-one airport group, the new agreement includes Cirium’s EmeraldSky analytics, which delivers unparalleled flight, landing and take-off emissions data. This pioneering solution will provide MAG with the most accurate aircraft emissions data, allowing for monitoring, reporting and modulation of airport charges. The methodology behind this data has been vetted by experts from the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.
MAG will also leverage Cirium’s On-Time Performance data, considered the gold-standard in the industry. This data measures the performance and reliability of airports and the airlines which operate from them. This will enable MAG to benchmark its performance and showcase its performance against other airports in the UK and around the world.
Additionally, the agreement includes Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer and Diio market intelligence tool. Fleets Analyzer will empower MAG’s strategy team to better understand the evolution of an airlines’ fleet, and the Diio market intelligence tool will help to develop more robust business cases to attract new routes to the Group’s airports, all while monitoring market changes and improving forecasting.
Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO said, “We’re thrilled to be able to aid the biggest airport group in the UK to improve operations, and achieve sustainability goals through our range of Cirium solutions. Cirium’s comprehensive proposition stands out from our competitors by delivering value across multiple facets of MAG’s operations.”
MAG Chief Strategy Officer, Andrew Macmillan said: “Data plays a significant role in running an effective airport. We are always seeking new opportunities to better our understanding of how our airports are functioning, and where we can make improvements. Ensuring our airports are operating as sustainably as possible is also a priority for MAG. Any new insight as to how to cut our carbon emissions moves us closer to our goal of net zero aviation by 2050.
“This new partnership will aid strategic planning across MAG, improve operational efficiency for our colleagues and airline partners, and deliver a better airport experience for our passengers.”
To learn more about the Cirium aviation analytics and solutions visit cirium.com
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
About Manchester Airports Group Manchester Airports Group (MAG)is the UK’s largest airports group which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, alongside digital services business CAVU. In 2023/24, MAG serves 63.1m passengers and directly employs more than 7,500 people. The Group flies to more than 200 destinations, working with more than 60 airline partners. MAG has a target to make its airport operations net zero by 2038, and in 2016 was the first UK airport group to be certified as carbon neutral.
At a ceremony held February 10, 2025, in El Dorado Airport (BOG), Cirium’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Bowen, presented the inaugural Platinum Award for Operational Excellence to Natali Leal, General Manager/CEO of Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado, and representatives from the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) and the National Infrastructure Agency of Colombia (ANI). Congratulations to the entire team at BOG for this outstanding achievement.
This award recognizes outstanding airport performance, acknowledging achievements in on time performance, mitigating passenger impact during delays, operational excellence, and connectivity and growth.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Executive Director and CEO, Exactly Consulting and Services SARL
We present the Airport Platinum Award to the world’s best airport, which has demonstrated operational excellence for the year.
El Dorado Bogota International Airport wins this inaugural award this year. This accolade recognizes the airport’s exceptional performance beyond on-time performance. We recognize the airport’s performance through a broader lens, including its ability to limit passenger impact during flight disruptions, operational excellence, and growth.
Airports play a crucial role in the aviation industry, serving as primary hubs for both airlines and passengers. Their attractiveness can significantly influence the success of airlines and the satisfaction of travelers. Several factors contribute to making an airport appealing to both these groups.
Operational Efficiency
For airlines, operational efficiency is a top priority. Airlines favor airports that offer quick turnaround times, minimal delays, and streamlined processes for baggage handling and refueling. Efficient airports help airlines maintain their schedules and reduce operational costs. Additionally, modern infrastructure, including well-maintained runways, ample gates, and advanced air traffic control systems, is essential. Airports that invest in these areas can handle more flights and larger aircraft, making them more attractive to airlines.
Cost-Effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness is another critical factor. Despite of the less than 4% in average represent the airport charges in the airlines cost basis, they can significantly impact an airline’s bottom line. Airports that offer competitive pricing for landing fees, parking, and other services are more likely to attract airlines. Additionally, incentives and discounts for new routes or increased traffic can be a strong draw. Connectivity and network capabilities also play a significant role.
Connectivity and Network
Connectivity and network capabilities also play a significant role.
Airports that serve as major hubs with extensive connectivity to other destinations are highly attractive.
Airlines prefer airports that can facilitate easy transfers for passengers and cargo, enhancing their network efficiency.
For passengers, accessibility and location are crucial. Airports situated close to city centers or well-connected by public transportation are more convenient and thus more attractive to travelers. Passengers also appreciate airports that offer a wide range of amenities, such as comfortable lounges, diverse dining options, shopping, and free Wi-Fi. These services enhance the overall travel experience, making the airport more appealing.
Safety and Security
Safety and security are paramount for passengers. Airports that implement stringent security measures and maintain a clean, safe environment are more likely to be favored by travelers. Additionally, friendly and efficient customer service can significantly enhance a passenger’s experience. Airports that prioritize customer satisfaction through helpful staff, clear signage, and efficient processes tend to attract more passengers.
Given the aging population and the need to make airports more inclusive, enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities is essential to better meet the needs of all passengers.
In conclusion, the attractiveness of an airport to both airlines and passengers rests on a combination of operational efficiency, infrastructure, cost-effectiveness, connectivity, accessibility, amenities, safety, and customer service.
Airports that excel in these areas are well-positioned to thrive in the competitive aviation industry, generating better revenues and improve the social and economic activity in the places served.
Report highlights
Delta Air Lines Secures Cirium’s Platinum Award for Operational Excellence for Fourth Year Running
Aeromexico Recognized as the Most On-Time Airline in the Global Category
Regional Leaders Announced: Delta Air Lines, Copa Airlines, Iberia Express, Japan Airlines, and FlySafair Take Top Honors
Bogotá El Dorado International Airport Earns Cirium’s Inaugural Airport Platinum Award
Riyadh King Khalid International Airport Named Most On-Time Global Airport for 2024
Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, has announced a partnership to connect with Airfinance Global’s leading airline financial data. Users who rely on Cirium’s definitive source of fleets data, can now link directly through to Airfinance Global’s comprehensive store of financial statements and analytics on over 300 airlines.
Customers of both Cirium’s Airline Profiles and Airfinance Global’s Airline Intelligence tool can move between the two services with a single click. This integration will allow airline finance professionals to work faster in gaining deep insights into an airline’s fleet, financial health and aircraft movements.
Kevin O’Toole, Cirium Chief Strategy Officer said: “The integration between Cirium and Airfinance Global will enable users to move smoothly between two of the industry’s most valuable analytics services; confident that we have already done the work to match the fleet record and the financial reporting. For credit risk teams, in particular, this should improve the speed and depth of their airline analysis.”
By combining the intelligence within Cirium and Airfinance Global’s tools, customers can analyze financial records and timely fleet information in tandem, offering a unified view for quicker lending decisions and asset verification. Additionally, financiers can assess the impact of fleet changes on the financial health of airlines and speed up decision-making around aircraft commitments and obligations during financial challenges, ultimately reducing hours of work required for critical business evaluations.
Ann-KathrinKotte, Airfinance Global Managing Director commented: “This partnership evolves how aviation finance professionals access aviation finance intelligence. Our integration with Cirium’s analytics tool allows customers to efficiently analyze airline fleet data alongside financial performance metrics. This collaboration between two industry leaders demonstrates our commitment to advancing the aviation finance sector through innovative solutions and partnerships.”
Clients already subscribing to both Cirium’s Airline Profiles and Airfinance Global’s Airline Intelligence can access this integrated feature immediately using their existing login credentials.
For more information about subscription options, contact your Cirium account representative or contact the team.
For Cirium media inquiries please contact Cirium at media@cirium.com
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
About Airfinance Global Airfinance Global is a trusted provider of aviation finance intelligence, offering detailed airline financial data, fleet insights, and analytical tools to empower aviation financiers. Airfinance Global is dedicated to advancing financial ecosystems within the aviation industry by providing innovative solutions and data-driven insights.
The strategic partnership will optimize airport resources and develop master planning modules for IIAC’s overseas airport ventures
With a global coverage of more than 35 million flights, Cirium’s data will drive two IIAC state-of-the-art aviation solutions: Simulator and MasterPlanner.
Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) enters a strategic partnership with Cirium, a global leader in aviation analytics. Through the partnership, IIAC will be able to leverage Cirium’s aviation data to conduct research on airport data technology and commercialization. The signing ceremony was attended by high-level officials, including Mr. Kim Beom-ho, IIAC Executive Vice President, and Mr. Youngsuk Chi, Director of Corporate Affairs and Asia Strategy for RELX, Cirium’s parent company.
Cirium is renowned for its comprehensive aviation datasets and insights, ranging from flight statuses, schedules and routes, to fleets and emissions. The company brings 115 years of experience serving a wide range of aviation stakeholders, including airlines, airports, financial institutions, government agencies, manufacturers, and technology firms.
The new partnership unlocks access to valuable data that will accelerate IIAC’s digital transformation. With its global coverage of more than 35 million flights, Cirium’s data will empower IIAC’s second-generation in-house venture program to develop two key solutions: Simulator and MasterPlanner
Simulator: This solution will optimize allocation of facilities (such as check-in counters and security checkpoints) and workforce management by calculating passenger delays and queue times.
MasterPlanner: This solution will analyze annual facility requirements and cost-benefit ratios beneficial for new airport construction or expansion projects.
The partnership will also advance IIAC’s international collaboration efforts and expand its reach to new overseas markets.
“We hope this partnership will mark the beginning of our data-driven airport operations and development vision,” said Lee Hak-jae, President of IIAC.
“By combining Cirium’s high-quality aviation data with Incheon Airport’s technical expertise, we aim to realize our goal of operating 10 overseas airports.”
Lee Hak-jae
Youngsuk Chi, Director of Corporate Affairs and Asia Strategy for RELX, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating, “We expect Incheon Airport and its in-house venture team to develop outstanding solutions using Cirium’s comprehensive and reliable data. We look forward to continuing our cooperation as business partners for overseas expansion.”
Cirium Sky is purpose-built to enable airlines, airports, financial institutions, aircraft manufacturers, and travel distributors to unlock the value in aviation data. Learn more about the data supporting IIAC’s digital transformation here.
London, 14 January 2025: Cirium Ascend Consultancy, part of the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, Cirium, has once again landed Airline Economics’ prestigious title of ‘Appraiser of the Year’ at an award ceremony last night.
This marks the tenth win for Cirium Ascend Consultancy, demonstrating its unparalleled expertise within aviation consultancy and underlining its unwavering commitment to excellence, transparency and accuracy.
The annual award was presented to Rob Morris, Global Head of Cirium Ascend Consultancy, at the Airline Economics Aviation 100 Global Leaders Awards 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, which celebrates the best companies, individuals and transactions in the aviation finance and leasing sector.
2025’s landmark win makes it the first time a single firm has won the title 10 times, recognising Cirium Ascend Consultancy’s invaluable insights that have shaped the strategies of key players in the industry.
Voters of this year’s award praised Cirium’s accurate, timely, and insightful aircraft appraisals that have provided the valuations and analysis needed to understand market outlook, evaluate risks, and identify opportunities.
Rob Morris, Global Head of Cirium Ascend Consultancy, said: “As we start 2025, we are humbled to have been named ‘Appraiser of the Year’ for the tenth time, reaching an impressive milestone in our history. Winning this prestigious accolade not only symbolises the trust and confidence our industry has in us, but is a tribute to the Ascend Consultancy team’s dedication and commitment throughout 2024. We have continued to strive for excellence, offering clients independent and transparent insights in a volatile year for OEMs, lessors, and the wider supply chain.”
Cirium Ascend Consultancy’s contributions extend beyond appraisals, encompassing various aspects of aviation analytics such as risk management, asset tracking, and sustainability evaluations. The firm’s innovative solutions, including CO2 emissions benchmarking and fuel consumption analysis, reflect its commitment to supporting the industry’s transition towards a more sustainable future.
With worldwide teams, and the industry’s largest team of ISTAT/ASA certified appraisers, Cirium Ascend Consultancy is poised to further drive industry analysis and improvement in 2025.
About Cirium Ascend Consultancy Cirium Ascend Consultancy, a division of Cirium, offers market-leading expertise to help inform and drive successful strategies in the commercial aviation industry. With a global team of seasoned consultants and analysts, Cirium Ascend Consultancy delivers comprehensive data, expert insights, and tailored services that directly impact strategic investments and open avenues for growth in aviation.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, has announced a new partnership with Aerlytix. The collaboration will enhance the data analytics capabilities for financial service providers and lessors, powering broader insights and more readily accessible and faster asset and risk management scenario views and reporting.
With pressure mounting on the aviation industry to provide more frequent reports and make metrics more available for advantageous market solutions, this partnership, along with Cirium’s investments in analytics, is positioned to support these challenges through innovative and transparent data solutions. Cirium predicts that 2025 will be a pivotal year for transformative data analytics in aviation finance and digital platforms to assist in investment strategies and asset management.
Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO said: “Our Partnership with Aerlytix, combined with Cirium’s continued investment in data and analytics innovation, underscores our commitment to driving transformative advancements in aviation finance. The industry faces mounting pressures for more rigorous financial reporting, enhanced oversight and improved access to financing—key to modernising fleets and facilitating aircraft trading. Addressing these challenges requires greater efficiencies, transparency and data security. Cirium’s unique expertise in aviation data analytics empowers financial institutions to meet these demands and create smarter financial strategies.”
Cirium’s exclusive relationship with Dublin-based aviation technology company Aerlytix, provides aviation financiers with access to maintenance-adjusted valuations, scenario-based fly-forwards on a single aircraft as well as portfolio valuation reporting through Aerlytix’s advanced digital platform.
The new integrated service leverages the combined strengths of Cirium and Aerlytix by incorporating Cirium Ascend’s comprehensive data – covering fleets, values, maintenance costs, reserves and intervals- alongside Ascend Consultancy’s accredited aircraft valuations expertise, which will be integrated into the Aerlytix proprietary SaaS platform.
Alan Doyle, Aerlytix CEO said: “This integrated service empowers the aviation financial services market to digitize decision-making around asset portfolios, seamlessly embedding analytics into finance and technical workflows. We are delighted to partner with Cirium to drive innovation and set a new standard in portfolio valuations.”
Cirium’s dedication to helping drive the evolution in data analytics within the aviation finance market extends to its recent investments in innovative tools that enable tracking flight and ground activity of aircraft portfolios, monitoring and benchmarking key value and liquidity metrics by aircraft asset class and analyzing aircraft CO2 emissions. Additionally, Cirium is onboarding new technologies to provide businesses with seamless and innovative access to its comprehensive data, including a data warehouse available through platforms such as Snowflake Software.
About Aerlytix Aerlytix is transforming the aviation finance industry across the globe with its cutting-edge SaaS products. By harnessing the power of technology, data and advanced modelling, Aerlytix delivers major productivity wins and brings accuracy and clarity to aviation investment decision-making. Driven and continuously enhanced by its active userbase it is fast becoming the technology solution of choice for industry leading Lessors, Aviation Banks and Aircraft Investors worldwide.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
The complimentary OTPAwardsAIhelps in the analysis of the Cirium 2024 On- Time Performance results
Users can analyse and review on-time performance scores, flights, completion factors, and uncover performance trends with ease
This is the first of several GenAI assistants that Cirium will be launching this year, with a OTP Improvement AI coming soon
Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, has unveiled the industry’s first generative AI assistant designed specifically for airline and airport on-time performance (OTP). OTP Awards AI is the first of Cirium’s generative AI assistants designed to supplement the analysis of Cirium’s 2024 On-Time Performance Review.
The AI assistant empowers anyone connected to aviation to dig deeper into the top performer results, review the on-time performance scores, tracked flights and completion factor insights, and uncover performance trends with ease. With this tool, users can query and compare their metrics with industry leaders to identify performance gaps.
“2025 will be a pivotal year for aviation as it seeks to enhance the use of analytics and automate workflows,” said Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO. “Cirium’s new AI assistants supports the growing need for data availability, which is essential for advanced, data- driven decision-making. The first of our assistants is designed to augment the analysis of the 2024 Cirium On-Time Performance Review and is the first of its kind in the market. This is only the beginning.”
Using the assistant, the user can uncover insights and identify airline and airport performance trends. The tool can show a carrier’s ability to recover from disruption and maintain a high level of on-time performance. One of the key features of the OTP Awards AI is its ability for airlines and airports to compare their performance with that of their peers. The OTP Awards AI is the first of several assistants that Cirium will be releasing to the market this year.
Cirium’s AI assistants are being created with a focus on accuracy and precision by connecting directly to Cirium’s industry leading data platform, which is considered to be the most comprehensive in the industry. Up next is the OTP Improvement AI, which is designed to take OTP analysis even further and pinpoint opportunities for operational efficiency, enhancing situational awareness and conducting deep disruption analysis.
Learn more about Cirium’s OTP Awards AI and to sign up to the OTP Improvement AI waitlist.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
Mexico’s flag carrier topped the global category, followed by Saudia, and Delta Air Lines
Regional Winners Include: Copa Airlines (Latin America), Delta Air Lines (North America), Iberia Express (Europe, and Low-Cost Airline), Japan Airlines (Asia-Pacific), and FlySafair (Middle East and Africa)
Riyadh King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia Named Most On-Time Global Airport for 2024
Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, today announced the winners of its 2024 On-Time Performance Review, celebrating airlines and airports that excelled in on-time and operational performance.
Cirium’s Annual report is the gold standard for global airline and airport performance analytics. An on-time flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 14:59 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival time. Airports measure punctuality as departing flights within 14:59 minutes of their scheduled departure time.
Mexico’s Flag Carrier Tops Global Rankings
Aeromexico claimed the prestigious title of the most On-Time “Global Airline” in 2024, achieving an impressive On-Time performance rate of 86.70%. Saudia followed closely as the runner-up with 86.35%, while Delta Air Lines secured third place with 83.46%, continuing to showcase its operational reliability on the world stage.
Cirium’s Annual Review also acknowledges the operational excellence of airlines across the world, with five regional awards. Iberia Express, member of the International Airlines Group, had success as both the most On-Time airline in Europe, and the most On-Time Low-Cost airline globally. Japan Airlines ranked first within Asia-Pacific, just slightly ahead of All Nippon Airways.
Delta Air Lines continued its dominance in North America, while Copa Airlines achieved a landmark 10th win in Latin America. FlySafair also won most On-Time airline in the Middle East and Africa. The full tables of results by region and category are presented below.
Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport Takes Top Honors in the Global Airport Category
In the Airport categories, Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, the gateway to Saudi Arabia’s capital, claimed this year’s prestigious title of the most On-Time “Global Airport” with an impressive 86.65% of flights departing on time. The Middle Eastern hub further distinguished itself by securing victory in the ‘Large Airport’ category, outperforming top contenders from around the world.
Special Recognition of Operational Excellence: The Cirium Platinum Awards
Delta Air Lines topped the table for a fourth consecutive year, landing Cirium’s Platinum Award for global operational excellence. This prestigious accolade comes as the Atlanta-based airline continues to be praised for its unwavering commitment to operational performance.
The Platinum award considers the complexity of the carrier’s network, volume of flights, and the ability to limit the impact of flight disruptions on passengers over the entire year.
The airline was recognized for its on-time performance over the course of 2024 at 83.46%, on more than 1,712,529 total flights in 2024.
This year, Cirium also presented its first annual Platinum Award to a global airport, with El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia receiving this prestigious award. The Airport Platinum Award considers a broader range of factors including the impact of delays on passengers, the duration of disruptions, operational complexity, and the airport’s appeal, with a particular focus on growth. This holistic approach highlights excellence across multiple dimensions, setting a new benchmark in airport performance evaluation.
Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, said: “In an industry defined by operational complexity, we are extremely proud to be celebrating the airlines and airports who have provided customers the most on-time flights and best performance in 2024, acknowledging their operational excellence.”
“2024 was a difficult year for airlines, facing a large-scale IT outage, and unseasonable and severe weather patterns. Despite these challenges, these airlines and airports have worked tirelessly to ensure their customers have a smooth journey and reach their destination on-time.”
“We extend our congratulations to all the winners of this year’s On-Time Performance Review, each of whom has set new standards in operational excellence. A special recognition goes to Delta Air Lines for continuing their outstanding winning streak with Cirium’s Platinum Award for airlines, Copa Airlines for achieving its 10th title as Latin America’s most On-Time airline, Iberia Express for its consistent performance as Europe’s most On-Time airline, and Bogotá El Dorado Airport for securing Cirium’s first-ever Platinum Award for an airport.”
Now in its 16th year, the Cirium On-Time Performance Review remains the definitive benchmark for monitoring global airline operational performance. Powered by Cirium’s vast and impartial data—sourced from over 600 real-time feeds, including airlines, airports, global distribution systems, and civil aviation authorities—it offers a thorough and objective view of the industry. The program is further strengthened by the guidance of an independent advisory board composed of seasoned industry experts with decades of experience.
Notes to editors *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.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
The Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC), is advancing its data-driven approach to analyzing and categorizing cyber events through an agreement with Cirium – the leading provider of aviation analytics – to understand the effects of cyber events on the UK aviation industry.
Cirium delivers global data and analytics solutions to leaders in finance, aerospace, travel and government. On any given day, Cirium manages more than 300 terabytes of data covering everything from schedules and routes, to aircraft configurations and passenger record numbers. Cirium data provides insights on more than 35 million flights per year.
Cirium’s data has already provided the CMC with insights into the effects of the CrowdStrike cyber event. For three days from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 July, 390 flights were cancelled departing UK airports, impacting 65,000 passengers with a further 1,700 departures delayed by more than an hour.
“Cyber events can have far-reaching impacts on airlines including lost fare income, accommodation costs for stranded passengers, and passenger compensation. Events also cause a knock-on effect to airports, retail businesses in airports, and the broader tourism industry.”
Ruth Goodwin, Head of Operations at the Cyber Monitoring Centre
“Our partnership with Cirium provides us with valuable data and insights into airline delays and cancellations, and allows us to assess the economic impact to the airlines and other connected industries. This is another example of the robust data driven approach that we are taking to analyse and categorise cyber events to allow more informed decisions to be made around cyber risk.”
“Collaborating with the CMC is a great opportunity to apply Cirium’s vast store of integrated aviation data to understand the real-world impact of a major event.”
Kevin O’Toole, Chief Strategy Officer at Cirium
“The Crowdstrike event not only highlighted the immediate impact of such an outage, but also the subsequent disruption in the days that followed, as airlines sought to recover the schedule and reaccommodate passengers. We look forward to future collaborations and hope that CMC’s work will add to the industry’s understanding of how to react to future such events,” adds Kevin O’Toole.
About the Cyber Monitoring Centre The Cyber Monitoring Centre is a non-profit organisation responsible for analysing and categorising cyber events that impact UK organisations. Events are categorised by an independent technical committee made up of leading cyber experts, and based on analyses of data from leading data providers. In 2025, event categorisation and event reports will be provided at no cost to any interested organisations and individuals to help increase the understanding of the impact of cyber events, and improve cyber mitigation and response plans.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
Cirium’s Fleet Forecast predicts 45,900 new passenger, freighter, and turboprop aircraft will be delivered between 2024 and 2043.
The number of active aircraft globally now exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
Short-term forecast to 2027 predicts a 5% drop in deliveries due to supply chain issues
London, 22 October 2024: Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, has published its annual Fleet Forecast, revealing the future outlook of the global commercial passenger and freighter aircraft market.
The independent forecast, now in its twelfth year, reveals that 45,900 aircraft are predicted to be delivered globally over the next 20 years, equating to a total value of $3.3 trillion USD, as airlines continue to invest in newer and more sustainable aircraft.
This year’s forecast by Cirium Ascend Consultancy, comes as the aviation industry continues to face supply chain issues delaying aircraft deliveries, with the report projecting 5% fewer deliveries between 2024-2027 due to a shortage of components (compared to 2023 data).
Data also reveals that during Q4 2024, a total of 26,100 aircraft are currently in service, which is up 5% on January 2020 when the pandemic first took hold, showing the industry’s strong growth trajectory and recovery.
This rise has been driven by the delivery and operation of single-aisle aircraft (up 13%), with the number of twin-aisle aircraft sitting 3% below pre-pandemic levels. The number of active regional jets also remains 8% down on pre-pandemic levels, with turboprops having seen the largest drop of 13%.
Looking ahead to the next 20 years, Cirium’s Fleet Forecast also reveals that of the 45,900 new aircraft set to be delivered between 2024 and 2043, some 98% will be passenger aircraft, as the firm predicts that capacity (ASKs) will grow at 4.4% per year*.
Despite this, an estimated 3,500 freighters are expected to be delivered in the next 20 years, with the industry’s cargo fleet projected to grow 2.6% per year. This majority (70%) of these will be through passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions rather than new deliveries, as airlines look to make the most of the current spike in demand.
Airbus and Boeing will remain the two largest commercial aircraft OEMs, delivering an estimated 84% of aircraft between them, with this figure projected to rise to 90% by value in 2043, while COMAC is forecast to take a 6% share of demand. There is some $180 billion of demand for other OEMs (ATR, Embraer, etc), in addition to potential new programmes within the next 20 years.
Asia as a whole will continue to be the leading region for aircraft growth, taking some 45% of deliveries over the next 20 years, of which China will contribute some 20% on its own, almost reaching the North American total.
This growth is also compounded by the rise of commercial aviation within India, which is forecast to see the country’s passenger aircraft numbers increase from 720 at the end of 2023, to more than 3,800 over the next 20 years. The country is covered separately in the report for the first time.
Rob Morris
“As we continue to enter the next cycle of growth for the aviation industry, our new Fleet Forecast illustrates the continued demand for new aircraft, as airlines look to renew and expand their fleets,” said Rob Morris, Head of Consultancy at Cirium Ascend Consultancy.
However, it is clear that supply chain issues and other manufacturing will continue to cause delays for OEMs, leading to uncertain delivery schedules for many airlines, and this has been factored into our forecast.
With markets like India set for significant growth, it is clear that the next 20 years will be increasingly competitive for manufacturers, with airlines continuing to invest in their fleets.
The forecast also illustrates the challenge of sustainability and net-zero as fleet growth is balanced with new aircraft efficiency to drive reductions in unit emissions.
As part of the report, Cirium has also revealed that single-aisle are projected to lead the industry’s growth over the next 20 years, with a projected 3.9% annual growth rate, exceeding the 3.3% for twin-aisles, as long-haul traffic continues to see slower growth post-pandemic. Regional aircraft are predicted to rise more modestly at an overall rate of 0.8% per year.
The forecast covers aircraft sized from 30 seats upwards and their freighter equivalents.
The forecast does not include electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered aircraft programmes, due to the expectation that the development of existing or all-new commercial aircraft will be centred on conventional propulsion powered by increasing proportions of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
Cirium Ascend’s new Ground Events analytics tool is set to revolutionize the aviation aftermarket by providing the first truly global view of historical and projected aircraft maintenance events using satellite-based flight tracking.
Ground Events, the latest addition to the Cirium Ascend portfolio, provides MROs, OEMs, aircraft parts suppliers and airlines with the ability to generate comprehensive analytics which includes market share trends, turnaround times to derive strategic insights on markets for airframe maintenance, cabin retrofits and aircraft paint work.
The solution’s easy access to data makes Ground Events a powerful tool, helping users better understand aircraft maintenance events. Businesses such as MRO providers can analyse market share, forecast future ground events, and improve cost efficiency.
“We collaborated with the market, including a major European OEM, to launch a first-of-its-kind solution which pinpoints when the last maintenance check actually occurred and predicts future events based on this. It’s our mission to support the industry to inform their analysis of aircraft maintenance and better plan for future checks and events, saving significant time and costs,” said Mehmet Erdogan, VP of Ascend.
Cirium’s Ground Events tracks aircraft locations and dates on the ground, along with maintenance contract details, to analyze why a commercial aircraft has been grounded for seven or more consecutive days. It also offers insights into historical maintenance patterns and usage trends, allowing for future maintenance projections at the tail number level.
In accessing Ground Events users can select from a range of maintenance events such as C-checks, Heavy checks, strip/painting, retrofits and/or a combination of any of the above for a customizable search over a chosen date range.
The results can then be filtered by a variety of different fields such as operator, MRO provider, location, aircraft and engine data. The results are then displayed in an easily digestible format of tables and charts that can be compared to historical data and exported as required.
The tool enables businesses to analyze the data to precisely place aftermarket services and parts where they are needed, understand maintenance patterns of different aircraft types, identify retrofit opportunities and overall, optimize how aircraft are being utilized.
Ground Events shows, for example, that FedEx Express, a global delivery service company, permanently retired 22 Boeing 757s between March and May 2024 for fleet modernization. This anticipated the supply chain issues involving heavy maintenance for the 757 which peaked from Q2 2021 to Q1 of the following year, with a decline in fleet size and flight hours by the end of 2022.
Similarly, the tool shows over 450 Airbus A330-200/300s are expected to undergo C or Heavy maintenance checks during the next eight quarters. For this, Cirium tracked nearly 650 A330ceos undergoing checks with 47 MRO providers in the past two years.
Ground Events uses detailed data on aircraft maintenance from around 57,000 ground events dating back to 2018 to help predict trends and upcoming peaks and troughs in demand.
It integrates proprietary fleet maintenance intelligence and satellite-based flight tracking to ensure precise locations and dates of aircraft on the ground. The data is supported by a team of fleet data experts and flight data analysis to ensure accurate and up to date information is shared, with an average of 2,700 updates per week.
Cirium and RouteZero have unveiled a pioneering partnership to integrate Cirium’s EmeraldSky, specifically designed for corporate travel. This innovative offering represents a major leap forward in enabling companies to monitor, improve and report their air travel emissions reductions with unmatched accuracy and transparency.
RouteZero
Historically, corporations estimated the environmental impact of their air travel programs using broad assumptions based on scheduled air services. These rough estimates hindered accurate emissions tracking, and the reduction of their carbon footprints, leading to costly offsetting. The new partnership between Cirium and RouteZero transforms this process by offering post-flight emissions monitoring and reporting via EmeraldSky. This service provides precise, actionable insights based on actual flown operations, including the specific aircraft used, load factors, and the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Through this collaboration, corporations will benefit from highly accurate insights into their air travel emissions, powered by the EmeraldSky emissions system, which is applied after each flight. EmeraldSky is not just another methodology; it is a groundbreaking system that leverages exclusive data from the actual tail number of the aircraft used, incorporating critical details such as aircraft age, engine type, winglets, tarmac time, load factor and flight duration. Combined with our precise methodology tailored for the aviation and aerospace sectors, EmeraldSky has demonstrated an impressive accuracy margin of up to 99% of flown emissions compared to actual airline-recorded fuel and emissions measurements.
“Leading companies are making radical, proactive changes to the way they travel to enable them to meet their Net Zero goals. Deploying RouteZero, customers travel more miles to meet more customers whilst cutting emissions. Using the most robust and accurate data available, empowers travelers to get to their destination in the most sustainable way, whilst getting their companies closer to Net Zero. Decarbonization is possible if we work together,” said Dan Brown, CEO of RouteZero.
“The level of precision and accuracy of Cirium’s EmeraldSky CO2 emissions calculations for flights far exceeds estimates available today and leveraging this flight emission system via RouteZero enables corporations to fulfill their sustainability objectives faster and more cost effectively,” said Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium.
This innovative service not only enhances the accuracy of emissions reporting but also helps corporations better align their travel practices with their sustainability initiatives. By leveraging Cirium’s comprehensive flight emissions data and RouteZero’s expertise in sustainability, RouteZero’s service powered by EmeraldSky sets a new standard for environmental stewardship in corporate travel management.
Get more information about the RouteZero and Cirium’s EmeraldSky and hear how it can benefit your corporate travel program.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
About RouteZero RouteZero is dedicated to helping corporations achieve their sustainability goals through innovative solutions and technologies. By providing accurate and reliable emissions data, RouteZero empowers businesses to take meaningful action towards reducing their environmental impact. For further information please visit RouteZero.com.
London, 3 September, 2024: Cirium is now Condor’s new partner for aviation analytics, with the new agreement making Cirium the airline’s single source of external aviation data, providing end-to-end data services.
The partnership between Cirium, the aviation analytics firm, and Condor, will empower the German carrier to further improve its operations, driving quality insights aimed at improving the businesses efficiency and overall customer satisfaction.
As part of this new agreement, Cirium will provide the airline with three key data sets: historical flight data, schedules data, and real-time flight data.
Having utilised Cirium’s historical flight data for two years, Condor’s decision to now integrate Cirium’s additional suite of products presents a unique opportunity to further streamline operations, driving direct improvements for both the business and its customers.
This investment in data will enable the business to swiftly identify operational trends, allowing for quick solutions that reduce costs and enhance efficiency. It will empower teams to optimise fleet management, network planning, connections, and crew scheduling, driving significant improvements across all aspects of operations.
Cirium’s highly regarded flight schedules product is also part of the deal, offering deeper insights into service opportunities and market demand. With the up-to-date data, Condor will be able to optimise network and crew planning, boosting efficiency and profitability across the business.
The addition of Cirium’s real-time flight data will also provide live updates on aircraft around the world, meaning flights can be tracked and monitored with greater detail.
This will support Condor’s investment in its customer experience proposition, with Cirium’s live flight data feeding directly into customer-facing digital platforms, giving travellers precise departure and arrival times so they can plan their onward journeys. The addition of real-time flight data will also transform disruption management, offering even faster rebooking options to those with missed connections.
“We are very excited to announce this expanded collaboration with Condor, a leading global leisure airline. Condor has been a client of Cirium, benefiting from our historical flight data, and this strengthened partnership is a testament to both the quality of our data and the dedication of the Cirium team. Through this extended relationship, we will provide Condor with the most precise and reliable industry data, helping them enhance operational performance and, most importantly, deliver timely insights to their passengers worldwide,” said Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium.
As Germany’s most popular leisure airline, Condor has been flying customers to the world’s most beautiful destinations since 1956. With a fleet of over 50 aircraft, the airline serves around 90 destinations from Germany and Switzerland. This partnership with Cirium marks the latest step in Condor’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Cirium is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, delivering powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players.
Equipping airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities, the company provides the clarity and intelligence needed to optimise operations, make informed decisions and accelerate revenue growth.
To learn more about Cirium’s products, and how they can benefit your business, visit www.cirium.com
About Condor As Germany’s most popular leisure airline, Condor has been taking its guests to the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations since 1956. Condor operates a fleet of over 50 aircraft, which are maintained by the company’s own maintenance operation, Condor Technik GmbH, according to the highest safety standards at the Frankfurt and Dusseldorf locations. In spring 2022, Germany’s most popular leisure airline unveiled its new brand identity. This illustrates the development from a leisure airline to a unique and unmistakable vacation brand. The new design was unveiled with the first A330neo, which has been operated by Condor since December 2022. As the German launch customer, Condor will then be flying 21 A330neo long-haul aircraft. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology and maximum efficiency, the latest-generation 2-liter aircraft is the European front-runner with 2.1 liters per passenger per 100 kilometers and maximum customer comfort. Condor will also receive 43 brand-new short- and medium-haul aircraft of the A32Xneo family from 2024.
About Cirium Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
