We are delighted to recognize Panama City Tocumen International Airport’s (PTY) pivotal role in regional aviation with its ranking as the number one on-time medium-sized airport.
With an impressive 90.34% of flights departing as scheduled, PTY has set a new benchmark for operational efficiency in Latin America, underscoring its identity as a strategic hub and a leader in enhancing air travel reliability.
Situated at a critical juncture linking North, Central, and South America, PTY stands as the premier gateway to the Americas. Panama is not just a hub for connectivity; it serves a country rich in vibrant culture, breathtaking natural beauty, which also plays a pivotal role in global trade. Its diverse heritage blends indigenous, African, and Spanish influences, reflected in its music, dance, and festivals. Nature enthusiasts will find paradise in Panama’s lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and incredible biodiversity. The iconic Panama Canal serves as a cornerstone of international commerce, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and solidifying Panama’s position as a leader in global trade. As a thriving financial and logistics hub, Panama plays a critical role in Latin America’s economy, driving growth and innovation across the region.
Tocumen International Airport’s strategic location amplifies the importance of its performance metrics.
The airport’s ability to manage high traffic volumes while maintaining outstanding punctuality reflects a seamless blend of operational efficiency, substantial infrastructure investments, and strong collaborations with regional airlines.
Its partnership with Panama’s flagship carrier, Copa Airlines—renowned for leading the region in on-time performance for over a decade—further enhances this success. Together, they exemplify operational excellence, cementing PTY’s reputation as a reliable connecting hub for travelers across the Americas and beyond.
The broader significance of PTY’s ranking transcends its immediate impact on departure times. For Panamanian aviation, this accolade symbolizes both national pride and the success of the country’s efforts to position itself as a leader in aviation excellence. Panama’s robust commitment to efficiency, customer satisfaction, and cutting-edge technology in airport operations has proven instrumental in maintaining Tocumen International Airport’s status as a leading player on the global stage.
Regionally, PTY’s achievement in punctuality sets a precedent for other airports in Latin America to follow. Reliable on-time performance is not merely a statistic; it strengthens passenger confidence, enhances airline schedules, and fosters economic growth by facilitating smoother logistics and connectivity. Tocumen’s role as a model airport encourages higher expectations for service quality across the region, thus driving competition that ultimately benefits all travelers.
Panama City Tocumen International Airport’s recognition as the most punctual medium-sized airport for 2024 is a noteworthy accomplishment, but it is also a testament to its enduring influence in global aviation. By continuing to prioritize punctuality and operational precision, PTY is not only upholding its role as the gateway to the Americas but also advancing the standards for air travel reliability in Latin America, setting a course for sustained progress in the years to come.
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
Winter in Scandinavia can be unforgiving, but Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) doesn’t let a little snow slow it down. In 2024, SAS earned the title of Europe’s third most on-time airline, trailing Iberia, and secured a top ten spot in the Global On-Time Category, according to Cirium’s On-Time Performance Review. Achieving such reliability in a region where winter weather is a constant adversary speaks volumes about SAS’s ability to rise above the elements—and the competition.
For SAS, last year’s impressive on-time performance caps an eventful period with many changes. In 2021, with the pandemic still present, the companywelcomed Anko van der Werff as its new Chief Executive Officer. He quickly began work on securing the airline’s future, warning all stakeholders that this would require big changes. As he wrote in the company’s annual report at the time, “The future remains uncertain which means, to be able to compete in the long term, the transformation of SAS must continue and be accelerated.”
Van der Werff faced many challenges. To compete with Europe’s many low-cost carriers, SAS needed to reduce its own costs.
It also had to simplify its operations, be a leader in sustainability, work closely with unions, and deliver industry-leading service. In the years just before Covid, SAS was only slightly profitable. In its fiscal year 2019, for example, it earned a net profit of just 621 million Swedish krona on about 47 billion krona in revenue. That’s a profit margin of just 1%. It then lost nearly 16 billion krona in the next two years, which were hit by Covid. Like many other airlines around the world, it survived the crisis with the help of government financial assistance, in this case from the governments of Denmark and Sweden.
Navigating the Storm
Van der Werff’s task didn’t get any easier when SAS pilots staged a 15-day strike during the peak summer season in 2022. The strike led to roughly 4,000 cancelled flights affecting more than 380,000 passengers. In addition, the closure of Russia’s airspace affected the airline’s routes to Asia. A jump in fuel prices, volatile exchange rates, and air traffic control disruptions further impeded Van der Werff’s efforts. Just as the strike was getting started that summer, SAS took the difficult but necessary step of filing for bankruptcy.
“Following new ownership and the successful completion of our restructuring, SAS is emerging as a competitive and financially strong airline.”
Anko Van Der Werff, CEO, SAS September 2024
Van der Werff’s “SAS Forward” plan set the course for recovery. The strategy focused on cutting costs, renegotiating labor agreements, and broadening revenue streams, including boosting ancillary sales. It also introduced new leisure routes, such as Copenhagen to Bangkok, invested in digital transformation, and put a spotlight on on-time performance and reliability. During the winter month of February last year, SAS cancelled only 136 of its 16,026 scheduled flights, less than 1%—a clear sign that the plan was delivering results, especially given that the industry average for cancellations is 1.6%. Anything below 1% is considered exceptional performance.
A New Era with SkyTeam
Air France/KLM was impressed enough to buy 20% of SAS, helping the carrier exit bankruptcy last August. “This marks the start of a new era for SAS,” the airline said. With its new partner, it switched from the Star Alliance to SkyTeam. It started a new Copenhagen route to Delta’s Atlanta hub. Next summer, it will add a Copenhagen route to Delta’s Seattle hub. Next autumn, it will add Copenhagen to Korean Air’s home airport Seoul Incheon, another SkyTeam hub. It also signed a codeshare agreement with SkyTeam’s Virgin Atlantic. Van der Werff has said he’d like to join Air France/KLM’s transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Virgin.
Also last year, SAS welcomed its eight millionth Eurobonus member. Another highlight was announcing a major expansion from Copenhagen airport, which it’s positioning as “a key international gateway to and from Scandinavia and Northern Europe.” It explained, “Copenhagen’s attractive location in continental Europe allows for efficient same-day travel across Northern, Central, and Western Europe. The hub will also serve as a key transit point for long-haul travel, connecting Europe with North America and Asia.”
This year is off to a good start. As mentioned, Cirium was proud to recognize SAS for becoming one of the world’s most on-time airlines. “Our colleagues have joined forces to address what we know customers care most about: punctuality,” said Van der Werff.
“This achievement highlights the dedication and teamwork across SAS, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts and hard work of our colleagues.” He added, “Punctuality is about fulfilling our promise to passengers while supporting more sustainable travel. By managing the unique winter challenges in Scandinavia—snow and freezing temperatures for several months each year—SAS continues to provide reliable service. This underscores what we can accomplish with clear focus and collaboration.” Interestingly, SkyTeam members were heavily represented among last year’s on-time leaders, with Delta winning the Platinum Award for the fourth consecutive year for operational excellence and the most on-time airline in North America, Aeromexico, taking the number one spot in the Global Airline category, followed by Saudia in the second spot.
Looking Ahead
This will be a year of growth for SAS again. As Cirium’s Diio airline planning tool shows, SAS has 11% more seats scheduled this third quarter (its peak season) than last. Seats to and from Copenhagen will be up 20%! The airline will still be about 9% smaller than it was in the summer of 2019, based on seat capacity. However, it will be bigger in Copenhagen, by 14%. Surely, new routes will come as new planes arrive. Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer tool shows SAS currently has two more A350s arriving, plus another six A320neos. It now has 138 planes in total, 11 of them widebodies. Three of its A321neos, furthermore, are long-range “LR” versions.
Strength in Resilience
Despite all the challenges, SAS has emerged as a symbol of resilience. Its strong on-time performance reflects the airline’s commitment to reliability. From new alliances to an expanding network, SAS is setting itself up for long-term success. For an airline that weathered a financial storm, navigated labor disputes, and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose, SAS is flying high again.
While the temperatures in the Nordic region may stay icy, SAS’s turnaround story is just beginning to heat up.
Andrew Doyle, Senior Director – Market Development, Cirium
For aviation enthusiasts, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a well-orchestrated flight schedule. But what if being on time in air travel could also make a real difference in the fight against climate change? For the first time, Cirium’s groundbreaking EmeraldSky emissions methodology has revealed a significant link between airline on-time performance (OTP) and reduced flight emissions. This innovative analysis is a game-changer in showing how schedule reliability can directly contribute to more sustainable skies.
EmeraldSky isn’t your run-of-the-mill emissions calculator. It’s a sophisticated tool that takes into account a wide array of variables when estimating CO2 emissions for each flight. From the type of aircraft and engine series to winglet design, passenger and cargo payloads, and even the age of the airframe—it’s all factored in. Crucially, EmeraldSky also includes real-time data like gate and runway times, allowing for an accurate record of how long planes spend taxiing and flying. This level of precision sets it apart from traditional, distance-based emissions tools.
Why does this matter? Because time spent in the air or on the ground directly impacts fuel burn—and therefore CO2 emissions.
Efficiency at every stage of the flight isn’t just about convenience for passengers; it’s also about reducing aviation’s environmental footprint.
By tracking the relationship between OTP and emissions trends, Cirium’s analysis reveals that efficiency at every stage of the flight isn’t just about convenience for passengers; it’s also about reducing aviation’s environmental footprint.
Cirium analyzed airport pairs that operate high volumes of short-haul mainline flights (less than 1,500km), comparing data from July 2019 to July 2024. Cirium identified eight routes where improved OTP coincided with significant reductions in average flight times and emissions. On the other side, nine routes showed longer sector times, increased emissions intensity, and declining OTP.
The correlation was clear: better on-time performance generally resulted in lower carbon intensity. In simpler terms, when flights run on time, emissions go down.
The findings highlight the importance of addressing inefficiencies in air traffic management (ATM). For instance, the slow progress in integrating nationally controlled airspace over mainland Europe is a well-known bottleneck. These inefficiencies not only drive-up fuel burn and emissions, but also limit airlines’ ability to improve OTP. Solving such challenges could unlock benefits for both the environment and operational performance.
For aviation stakeholders and industry leaders alike, this provides compelling evidence of how operational excellence can align with sustainability goals. Improving OTP isn’t just about keeping passengers happy—it’s about making air travel smarter, greener, and better for the future of our planet. Cirium’s EmeraldSky methodology has paved the way for a deeper understanding of this critical relationship, proving that every minute matters in the journey toward more sustainable skies.
Improving OTP Results in Lower CO2 Intensity
(KG OF CO2 PER ASK) JULY 2024 VS JULY 2019 (SELECT ROUTES)
Learn more about how Cirium’s EmeraldSky can enable you to make aviation greener and cleaner, please see EmeraldSky Aircraft & Flight Emissions and schedule a meeting with our experts.
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
Willy Boulter, Advisory Board Member Consultant and former Airline Executive
There have been many ground-breaking announcements coming out of Saudi Arabia in the past two to three years about new investments and initiatives: to these we can add the amazing performance of Riyadh King Khalid International Airport in winning both the “Large Airport” and “Global” categories in Cirium’s 2024 On Time Performance awards.
Whilst it is easy to announce grand plans and new investments, Riyadh Airport is delivering excellence already, achieving an on-time departure record of 86.65% in 2024, across 240,990 tracked flights, serving 115 routes. Every day, 24 hours a day, the airport has enabled the airlines and travelling public to benefit from a world-class performance, which handily beat the second-place finisher (Lima) by almost two percentage points and was ahead of its closest regional competitor, Doha, by over five percentage points. With a relentless focus on operational excellence and business continuity at the airside, allied to slot optimization and utilization in planning, combined with continuous improvements to the passenger experience, Riyadh Airport is leading the industry globally.
Riyadh is serving a fast-growing market – the major Riyadh-Jeddah city pair was the fastest growing domestic route in the world in 2024.
Riyadh is serving a fast-growing market – the major Riyadh-Jeddah city pair was the fastest growing domestic route in the world in 2024 and the dynamic local carriers, led by Saudia (SV), added capacity aggressively to address the nation’s growing demand for both business and leisure travel. With GDP growth of 4.4% predicted for 2024 and slightly more for 2025, aviation growth will easily top 10% a year, given the huge range of new investment in tourism development. SV’s seat growth in 2024 has been 9.8% and the airline added six aircraft to their 137 strong fleet.
The Saudi low-cost airlines, flynas and flyadeal (a subsidiary of SV) have also added capacity and have ambitious growth plans ahead: flynas has 280 aircraft on order, including 30 A330s, meanwhile flyadeal announced an order for 51 A320 family aircraft in May.
To win the “Airports” categories so decisively is truly a feather in the cap of all involved with Riyadh Airport and bodes well for the further expansion of aviation in the Kingdom.
The national aim is to achieve 330m passengers travelling into, out of and around the Kingdom by 2030. At some point in 2025, Riyadh Airport will host inaugural flights of the new Saudi flag carrier Riyadh Air, which is based in the city and will provide another carrier to serve the burgeoning Saudi market internationally, as well as sharing in the transit traffic moving over other hubs.
Riyadh King Khalid International Airport has in 2024 delivered a truly superlative performance, a great example to other industry players, both old and new, in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. All of us at Cirium salute the Riyadh team’s achievement and will be watching keenly as they address the huge growth challenges ahead.
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
Scott McCartney, Aviation Consultant and Adjunct Professor Duke University
On 12 of the first 25 days of November, United Airlines said hundreds of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport had to be canceled or delayed simply because of a shortage of air-traffic controllers.
It was nothing new. All year, the Federal Aviation Administration, short about 3,000 controllers nationwide, required cuts to flight schedules in the busiest aviation corridor in North America. During the summer, a 10% schedule reduction was ordered for the three main New York airports and more cuts in Washington, D.C. Then even more flights had to be grounded in August.
Despite that challenge and others, North American airlines posted a higher on-time arrival rate in 2024 at 76.36% compared to 74.45% last year.
There were more than 4% more total flights.
One key for airlines has been moving to powerful artificial-intelligence computing that can quickly re-arrange operations. That has always been a most-difficult puzzle. When airplanes and crews are out of place, gates are full and passengers are stranded, how an airline recovers greatly impacts overall performance.
Southwest Airlines, for example, suffered a major disruption at the end of 2022 not because of a bad winter storm but rather the airline’s inability to restart its 800 airplanes.
Southwest invested in new recovery system that improves crew communications and in minutes develops an efficient plan so a three- or four-day disruption is limited to a single day.
Last year, on-time performance increased almost two percentage points to 77.26%
Delta Air Lines once again was #1 in OTP, a particularly remarkable achievement considering Delta not only operates two hubs in New York but also fell victim to a week-long disruption from the July CrowdStrike cyber security failure. Delta’s recovery was much slower than other carriers.
Yet despite that setback, Delta’s performance the other 51 weeks of the year exceeded rivals by significant margins.
United is close on Delta’s heels, posting an on-time arrival average of 80.93%, just behind Delta’s 83.46%. For the year, Delta’s OTP was about one point below 2023 while United’s was about one point higher.
Considering the two are now the two largest airlines in the world in passenger traffic, as well as the leaders in OTP in their region, the reliability is a remarkable achievement. Despite increased growth, complexity, congestion and external headwinds like controller shortages, U.S. airlines continue to improve dependability, better-serving customers and their own bottom lines.
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
Aeromexico has reached two significant milestones in 2024, securing Cirium’s prestigious Global On-Time Performance (OTP) Award with an impressive on-time rate of 86.70%, and celebrating a milestone 90th anniversary on September 14, 2024, marking nearly a century of contributions to Mexico’s aviation industry.
With its vibrant cultural heritage and economic significance, Mexico stands as a nation rich in history and tradition. Renowned for its diverse landscapes, from ancient ruins to bustling urban centers, it is the second-largest economy in Latin America. Mexico’s robust macroeconomic framework and industrial diversity position it as a critical player in regional and global commerce, fostering strong ties through trade and tourism alike.
The airline industry plays a central role in advancing Mexico’s economic integration and connectivity. Aeromexico, a leading airline with deep roots in the nation, commands a significant 39% share of the domestic market and 47% of the international market. The broader aviation market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% through 2032, reflecting heightened demand for both domestic and international air travel. This sustained growth strengthens Mexico’s position as a key aviation hub, driving trade, tourism, and investment while solidifying the industry’s indispensable role in the country’s economic framework.
Consistent Excellence in On-Time Performance
Throughout 2024, Aeromexico has consistently demonstrated superior on-time performance, earning it recognition as one of the most reliable airlines worldwide.
In September, the airline achieved an OTP of 91.13%, a nearly 5% improvement from August’s 86.54%. These results reflect Aeromexico’s effective operational strategies, meticulous scheduling, and proactive approach to minimizing delays across its network.
The airline’s success is based on its robust infrastructure, built on a foundation of cutting-edge technology and efficient processes. By streamlining maintenance operations and adopting real-time data analytics to monitor performance, Aeromexico ensures passengers can depend on timely departures and arrivals—a cornerstone of its operational philosophy.
Continued Fleet Expansion
Aeromexico’s ability to achieve an 86.70% OTP in 2024 can be attributed to its strategic investments in fleet modernization and technological advancements. Over the past year, the airline has expanded its fleet to 113 aircraft, with 16 more on order—one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the industry—with an average age of just 7.1 years. Key acquisitions, including the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 and 787 Dreamliners, have bolstered operational capacity while maintaining high standards for performance and environmental sustainability.
Additionally, Aeromexico’s adoption of advanced scheduling systems and AI-powered tools, has further enhanced its operational agility. These technologies have enabled proactive management of potential disruptions, including weather-related challenges, ensuring the airline retains its edge in on-time performance and reliability.
Collaborative Efforts and Industry Leadership
The achievement of this On-Time milestone is proof of the dedication and expertise of Aeromexico’s team, whose collaborative efforts have been instrumental in driving success. From front-line staff to operational planners, every member of the Aeromexico family has contributed to creating a reliable and efficient network. Under the operational leadership of COO Santiago Diago, the airline has implemented effective strategies that have significantly enhanced on-time performance and overall performance. Meanwhile, CEO Andrés Conesa’s strategic vision has ensured that Aeromexico remains focused on growth, innovation, and delivering a world-class passenger experience. Together, their leadership has been pivotal in fostering the culture of excellence that continues to set Aeromexico apart.
Additionally, strong partnerships with key airports, including its hub at Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport, have further bolstered its operational capabilities.
This recognition reflects not only the airline’s innovative approach but also its resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence in the face of industry challenges.
Congratulations to the entire Aeromexico team for a brilliant performance!
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
Jay Morgan, Director, Professional Data Services, Cirium
Iberia Express (I2) has once again proven itself as one of Europe’s most reliable airlines, securing the top spot for On-Time Performance (OTP) in 2024. For the second year running, the airline achieved impressive operational efficiency, with 84.69% of its 44,140 flights arriving on time. This accomplishment sets a high standard in European aviation.
Building on its strong performance in 2023, Iberia Express has excelled in 2024 with notable expansions. While the Canary and Balearic Islands remain key markets, its seasonal routes saw significant growth, including flights to Marrakech (+460%), Menorca (+52%), Edinburgh (+250%), and Cairo (+885%).
This achievement highlights Iberia Express’s dedication to punctuality and reflects its broader commitment to operational excellence and forward-thinking culture.
A Culture of Excellence
Headquartered in Madrid, Iberia Express focuses on precision, efficiency, and customer service. As part of the Iberia Group which itself is part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), the airline benefits from a legacy of operational rigor and innovation.
Its success is no accident. Iberia Express uses advanced analytics and technology to optimize processes like fleet maintenance and scheduling.
This data-driven approach helps manage complex variables affecting OTP, ensuring passengers enjoy seamless journeys. A workforce committed to professionalism and collaboration also drives its consistent performance.
Madrid: A Hub of Success
Madrid, the city that headquarters Iberia Express, plays an essential role in shaping the airline’s success. The Spanish capital is not just a major European transportation hub; it is also a symbol of cultural pride and efficiency. Spain’s deep historical emphasis on innovation and discipline is reflected in its aviation sector, with Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport serving as a crucial node for international and regional flights alike.
The city’s geographic position reinforces Iberia Express’s strategic importance within European aviation.
Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Latin America, Madrid enables the airline to seamlessly connect diverse global markets while maintaining stringent operational standards. This unique positioning helps Iberia Express stand at the forefront of European connectivity, making its achievements in OTP all the more remarkable.
A Symbol of Spanish Excellence
Spain’s focus on precision and innovation is reflected in Iberia Express’s success. From its high-speed rail to world-class infrastructure, the country’s values of efficiency and reliability influence the airline’s operations. These cultural attributes strongly influence the airline, making it a symbol of Spanish reliability and quality.
Topping Europe’s OTP rankings, Iberia Express demonstrates more than punctuality—it embodies a spirit of excellence. As a leader in European aviation, the airline bridges high expectations with exceptional service, setting a benchmark for others to follow.
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
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
For the fourth year in a row, Delta Air Lines has clinched Cirium’s prestigious Platinum Award for Operational Excellence, underscoring the airline’s commitment to delivering superior on-time performance amidst the complexities of a global airline operation. This back-to-back recognition highlights Delta’s resilience, operational expertise, and dedication to ensuring a consistent, high-quality travel experience for passengers. Its full year on-time performance was 83.46% across 1,712,529 flights.
In 2024, Delta faced its share of industry-wide disruptions, including a significant technological setback caused by a worldwide software issue in July, affecting key operational systems. Despite this challenge and the criticism, Delta rebounded, showcasing their effective crisis management and the depth of their operational infrastructure. You must give credit where its due! The airline had rebounded with an on-time performance rate of 90.53% by October.
In the affected month, July, they dropped from the top spot in the North American category to third place and then recovered the following month to regain the top spot.
Through close collaboration with key hub airports and leveraging a highly talented team, Delta has once again demonstrated their industry leadership in both reliability and passenger satisfaction.
Continued Strategic Expansion
Delta’s approach to excellence isn’t just about numbers; it’s about a structured dedication to building an operation that passengers can trust. The airline’s fleet grew this year with the introduction of Airbus A330-900neo aircraft and placed an order for an additional 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft for delivery in 2026. This year alone, Delta launched an ambitious Latin American and Caribbean winter schedule, adding 35,000 seats across multiple routes— notable growth that bolstered its service footprint without compromising operational efficiency.
Outstanding Recovery Amidst a Challenging Summer
In July 2024, Delta’s operations were significantly impacted by a global disruption of Microsoft Windows software, caused by an update error by CrowdStrike, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity providers. The incident led to flight cancellations worldwide, and Delta, as a major user of the affected systems, bore the brunt of the issue with nearly 7,000 flights disrupted over five days. However, the airline demonstrated operational resilience and agility, recovering rapidly in August and maintaining leading on-time performance through September.
August and September: Delta’s Swift Return to the Top
The rapid recovery from July’s challenges was significant. By August, Delta was back on top in North America, achieving an impressive 80.9% on-time arrival rate, followed by an industry-leading 87.81% on-time performance in September. Even in the face of a difficult July, Delta managed to maintain a completion factor of 94.72%.
People Drive Delta’s Success
It’s no secret a big part of Delta’s strong on-time performance is a direct result of the dedication, expertise, and teamwork of its employees. The airline’s accomplishments reflect a workforce unified by a shared commitment to operational excellence, guided by the mantra: “safe, clean, and on time with bags.” Every Delta team member contributes to maintaining the airline’s reputation as a leader in reliability and customer satisfaction.
This performance is driven by Delta’s ongoing investment in its people. Comprehensive training programs, performance-aligned incentives, and a culture that prioritizes safety and punctuality equip employees to consistently deliver high-quality service. By fostering collaboration and a shared sense of purpose, Delta ensures its workforce is prepared and motivated to uphold the airline’s high standards, even in challenging circumstances.
Moreover, Delta’s close partnership with its hub airports, like Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Salt Lake City, has been integral to its success.
Cirium’s monthly airport performance data underscores how these hubs contribute to Delta’s ability to run an efficient, customer-centric operation.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Delta’s Operational Excellence?
Reflecting on Delta’s achievements, Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO, and Dan Janki, CFO, have attributed this year’s success to the airline’s disciplined focus on innovation and its team’s relentless pursuit of excellence. The airline’s commitment to learning from disruptions, strengthening operational protocols, and investing in cutting-edge technology positions it to maintain its role as a leader in airline reliability.
Congratulations to the entire Delta team for their exceptional performance in 2024. With its continued investments in people, processes, and technology, Delta Air Lines is once again setting the benchmark for what operational excellence can look like in the airline industry, inspiring others with its enduring commitment to delivering a world-class travel experience.
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
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.
According to Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, Santa Claus has again set the ultimate benchmark for operational excellence in aviation by orchestrating an unparalleled global itinerary this Christmas Eve. Covering approximately 1.6 billion homes in just 24 hours, he navigates a meticulously planned route, balancing speed, accuracy, and seasonal cheer. With an estimated cruising velocity of 2,900 kilometers per second—a pace far exceeding conventional aircraft—Santa’s sleigh transforms into a marvel of Christmas engineering. His system is further optimized by the 24-hour rotation of Earth, strategically leveraging 39 distinct time zones to tactically extend his delivery window for maximum efficiency. This precise synchronization ensures phenomenal on-time performance and operational excellence.
What powers this remarkable operation goes beyond mere speed; Santa’s sleigh is equipped with cutting-edge magical enhancements. Incorporating stardust propulsion and quantum temporal manipulation, his sleigh defies the barriers of time and physics. Meanwhile, his team of highly trained reindeer, led by the luminous Rudolph, ensures flawless navigation through unpredictable weather conditions. Cirium EmeraldSky’s calculations reveal that Santa’s sleigh operates with zero CO2 emissions. Through the seamless integration of age-old magic and visionary innovation, Santa maintains his legendary on-time performance, securing his title as the unrivaled titan of holiday aviation.
With that, we are excited to announce that for over 1,700 years running, Santa and his crew have once again achieved 100% On-Time Performance! Congratulations to the entire North Pole crew for everything you do to contribute to this remarkable achievement!
African aviation is experiencing remarkable growth, as detailed in Africa’s Skies in Focus, a new report released today by Cirium, the most trusted source of aviation analytics. Several factors have converged to fuel this rapid growth, including robust government support, increased investment, and a rising demand for air travel.
“African carriers and airports have among them global leaders, and that is not hyperbole. Look at the breadth and development of the Ethiopian Airlines network, or the operational excellence of Safair. That’s African aviation today, with more exciting developments on the way,” said Mike Malik, Chief Marketing Officer of Cirium.
Safair, the South African airline, excels at on-time performance, a key driver of customer satisfaction and a measure of overall operational performance. In 2024, the airline is the undisputed leader in the Middle East and Africa, and a strong performer among the global Low-Cost Carriers.
Passenger traffic in Africa surpassed pre-pandemic numbers in 2023 when total passenger traffic reached 161 million, compared to 144 million in 2019. The busiest airports on the continent are Cairo, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. African-flagged carriers maintain the lion’s share of capacity there, whose fleets are set to more than double by 2043, as detailed in the report.
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.
Technology disruptions are always a challenge, but when they hit during the peak summer travel season, like Delta experienced, the stakes are even higher. This past summer, on July 19th, Delta’s operations were upended by a worldwide malfunction of computers running Microsoft Windows, caused by a flawed software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Airlines from around the world were affected, but none more so than Delta, a big user of both Windows and CrowdStrike software.
The Atlanta-based airline had to cancel nearly 7,000 flights over five days, costing it an estimated $500 million. That included roughly $380 million in lost revenue, plus $120 million in additional costs. At the same time, Delta suffered damage to its reputation as an airline renowned for operational reliability. Just last year, it was the recipient of Cirium’s prestigious Platinum Award, given to carriers that excel in on-time performance while navigating considerable operational complexities. Delta won the award in 2021 and 2022 as well. As Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen said at the award ceremony, “Delta’s achievement sets a high standard for operational performance in the airline industry, and it is an inspiration for others.”
Ed Bastian (center) and team receiving the Cirium’s Platinum Award for the third year in a row.
The Delta team representatives proudly show the award to their colleagues.
How Badly Did the CrowdStrike Disruption Impact Delta’s Relative Operational Performance?
During June, the month before the CrowdStrike incident, Delta recorded an on-time performance rate of 80.05%. This was best among all airlines in North America, based on data from the Cirium On-Time Performance Program. It was eighth best among all airlines worldwide. For comparison, United’s on-time rate in June was 77%, American’s 74%, and Southwest’s 72%. Delta’s completion factor, which measures the percentage of flights operated rather than cancelled, topped 99%.
What about July? Unsurprisingly given all the CrowdStrike-related cancellations, Delta’s monthly completion factor dipped below 95%, the lowest rate among U.S. airlines. But for flights that did operate, punctuality remained solid. Delta’s July on-time rate was 72.36%, a decline from its normal rate but still third best across all of North America. Only Alaska Airlines and United posted a better July rate. Cirium’s monthly on-time performance reports provide an even more detailed look at the numbers. Delta, for example, operated 74% of its July flights within their scheduled block times (this was 77% in June). Its planes during the month departed on-time rate of 72.36% (80.5% in June). They arrived on time at a rate of 72.85% (79.88% in June).
North American Airlines: On-Time Performance in June 2024
North American Airlines: On-Time Performance in July 2024
What About August and September?
Delta’s operational performance quickly bounced back after the difficult month of July. Cirium’s August report on industry on-time performance showed the Atlanta airline once again atop the North American charts, registering an on-time arrival rate of 80.9%. Its completion factor rebounded to 98.2%. In September too, it was number one in North America, lifting its punctuality to 87.81%. This was good enough to rank Delta number four on Cirium’s global ranking for September.
Speaking at a Morgan Stanley event on September 12th, Delta’s chief financial officer Dan Janki told investors, “The operations continue to run very well. Delta remains the industry leader. If you look across all on-time performance metrics, we lead all carriers in that position. On completion factor, we’re number one related to network carriers. And that’s even with a tough five days that we had [from] the tech outage in July… the Delta team managed to return us to an industry-leading position.” CEO Ed Bastian gave the same message during the carrier’s third quarter earnings call on Oct. 10th. “Year-to-date, our on-time performance is best in the industry, and our completion factor leads the network carriers even when including the impact of the outage.”
North American Airlines: On-Time Performance in August 2024
North American Airlines: On-Time Performance in September 2024
AC – Air Canada, AS – Alaska, AA – American Airlines, F9 – Frontier Airlines, B6 – JetBlue, WN Southwest, NK – Spirit Airways, UA – United, WS – Westjet
Where Does Delta Go From Here?
Janki said the airline is reviewing how it handled the CrowdStrike disruption. “There’s definitely a set of learnings related to all elements: people, process, policy.” The airline will continue, he added, to invest heavily in new operations technology. Looking ahead, Cirium’s Diio network planning system shows that Delta is planning to operate more than 430,000 flights in the fourth quarter of 2024, with more than 60 million seats. Both figures represent a roughly 5% increase from last year’s fourth quarter. Running an airline with that much capacity and complexity is no easy task!
What’s Delta’s Secret?
How exactly did Delta win Cirium’s Platinum Award three years in a row? How did it bounce back from July’s IT disruption to once again lead North America in on-time arrivals during August and September? One answer is close cooperation with its most important hub airports. Cirium, in addition to its monthly on-time performance reports for airlines, publishes monthly reports for airports too.
Atlanta, Delta’s busiest hub, which is also the world’s busiest airport, ranked 16th in the world among global airports during both August and September.
Other important Delta airports like Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), Detroit (DTW), Los Angeles International (LAX) and Salt Lake City ranked high on Cirium’s latest rankings as well.
Ever since merging with Northwest in 2008, Delta has strived to improve its operational reliability. Many of its efforts are described in the 2016 book Glory Lost and Found, How Delta Climbed from Despair to Dominance in the Post-9/11 Era, by Seth Kaplan and Jay Shabat. The airline has since continued to adopt new technology and is now exploring new applications that use artificial intelligence. Delta speaks often about leveraging data and empowering employees. It owns Delta Tech Ops, which calls itself the largest airline maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider in North America. This is particularly helpful with so many current challenges in the aviation supply chain, including parts and engine shortages.
The in-house maintenance expertise also helps Delta deliver strong reliability on older planes, even as it introduces many new planes.
According to Fleets Analyzer, Cirium’s leading analytics database of worldwide aircraft data, Delta has more than 300 new Airbus and Boeing planes on order, including A350s, A330s, A321s, B737 Max 10s, and A220s.
Managing a global airline with a diverse fleet is no small task, yet Delta continues to set the standard for reliability, as highlighted in Cirium’s monthly on-time reports. While the CrowdStrike issue in July posed a challenge, Delta quickly regained its stride, delivering strong operational performances in August and in September. As the year unfolds, the question remains: how high can Delta climb? Stay tuned to our monthly reports to track their continued success.
