As we reach the end of 2023, it is evident that this has been a significant year for the airline industry, particularly for North American carriers, which is the home to four of the five largest passenger airlines worldwide in terms of flight operations. The industry has experienced a whirlwind of developments, including a continuous increase in travel demand after the pandemic, strain on airport infrastructure, labor shortages, and rising fuel costs. Additionally, the diverse routes and varying weather conditions in North America present additional complexities for airline operations.
Despite these challenges, North American airlines have excelled in maintaining high operational efficiency and punctuality. Their ability to navigate these complexities is a testament to their resilience and adaptability. In terms of arrival performance, the overall rate for 2023 was 74.45%, with approximately 400,000 more scheduled flights compared to 2022, which had an on-time arrival rate of 74.26%.
Investment in technology, coupled with an unwavering commitment to customer service, undoubtedly contributed to the impressive on-time punctuality.
North American airlines have successfully adapted to these market challenges, while meeting the continuous increase in travel demand. Their investment in technology, coupled with an unwavering commitment to customer service, undoubtedly contributed to the impressive on-time punctuality statistics for the year.
Delta Air Lines once again claims the top spot in terms of performance, with 84.72% arriving on-time on over 1.5M flight operations. Following closely behind, and deserving honorable mention, was Alaska Airlines boasting an OTP of 82.25% on over 400,000 flights and American Airlines at 80.61% on over 1.9M flights. These airlines performed exceptionally over the course of the year overcoming tremendous travel demand and disruptive weather events. Congratulations to Delta Air Lines for their exceptional and consistent on-time performance!
In 2023, North American airlines underwent a remarkable transformation. They skillfully navigated the dynamic market landscape and elevated their operations in the face of increasing air travel demand. As we look ahead to 2024, we anticipate sustained operational excellence as challenges arising from labor shortages and airport infrastructure are gradually addressed and resolved.
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 Ascend Consultancy is trusted by clients across the aviation industry to provide accurate, timely, and insightful aircraft appraisals. The team provides the valuations and analysis the industry relies on to understand the market outlook, evaluate risks and identify opportunities.
Sara Dhariwal, Senior Aviation Analyst, Lead Appraiser – Helicopters & AAM, Cirium Ascend Consultancy
The spotlight is once again on the Sikorsky S-92A as concerns mount over the manufacturer’s ability to maintain the aircraft. The lack of parts supply has already prevented some of the type from returning to service. Norway’s energy minister Terje Aasland joined the debate in early 2024, suggesting to news outlet Energy Voice that “oil and gas activity may be hit by a lack of spare parts for S-92 helicopters”.
Since the fatal crash of Airbus Helicopter’s H225 off the coast of Norway in 2016, the S-92A has been the main heavy helicopter operating in the oil and gas industry. Heavies play a crucial role as they possess the range and payload to complete a return journey to oil rigs furthest offshore without having to refuel.
The current fleet of just under 200 S-92 helicopters therefore provide important support in transporting oil rig workers, and supplies, between shore and oil rig platforms. A disruption of its ability to operate could, at worst, disrupt the ability to continue to produce oil and gas.
Source: Cirium Fleets Analyzer
The highlighted issue brings attention to the risks associated with relying solely on a single helicopter model, such as the S-92A, which possesses comparable payload and range capabilities.
However, until recently, there was an abundance of aircraft available to fulfil the mission requirements due to excess capacity resulting from the prolonged downturn in the oil and gas industry.
The increasing demand within the industry has resulted in a swift utilisation of the stored fleet. The storage rates for the S-92 helicopters have experienced a notable decline, reducing from an average of 15% between 2018 and 2022 to a mere 7% at present.
As a result, and in addition to overhauls required to get stored aircraft back in service, the already operational S-92A helicopters are accumulating higher flight hours, leading to an accelerated need for overhauls.
This situation creates a potential bottleneck for demand of parts and maintenance capacity.
In 2015, a new category helicopters were introduced to the market – the super mediums. The category includes Airbus Helicopters H175 and the Leonardo AW189. While they do not have quite the range/payload combination of a heavy, they have proved themselves a worthy replacement of the S-92A on most routes.
Source: Cirium Fleets Analyzer
The introduction to the market for the super mediums has so far been relatively slow. With a combined current fleet of just over 80 helicopters, no spare capacity, and a typical lead time of 18-24 months for new orders, they do not provide a short-term capacity solution when the S-92 is unavailable.
The heavy/super medium categories are not the only type that have seen a sharp decline in deliveries for the offshore sector. The number of overall deliveries into the sector has reduced by over 70% in the past decade, compared to the previous 10-year period.
Limited growth is predicted in the next decade, and the 2023 Ascend Helicopter Fleet Forecast suggests that focus will be on replacement of around 25% of the current fleet. That means a replacement of around 350 aircraft in the next 10 years, which would require an average of 35 deliveries per year.
There are two new types in the market such as the Airbus Helicopters H160 and yet-to-be-certified Bell 525 Relentless. They both have the ability to take some market share from the more established types.
Even where new orders are an option, financing can be an issue. With the oil and gas downturn, dialogue about reducing reliance on fossil fuels and unfavourable contract terms from the oil majors are increasing investment uncertainty.
Lessors have increased their share of the overall fleet operating in the offshore sector over the past decade. Lessors can be beneficial in raising finance and managing fluctuating capacity requirements, but a lessor-dominant market brings its own issues.
Could the Coming Months Provide Some Clues as to the Future of the Sector?
Will there be an increase in order announcements, for what and from whom?
Will the start of the replacement cycle become more evident?
Will the lessors continue to increase market share, or will there be an increase in direct operator ownership?
Will oil majors step up to provide more stability?
Will there be an improvement in maintenance supply challenges?
What about further explorations vs renewables?
This year is set to be another very interesting one for the helicopter industry and as always, the Cirium Ascend Consultancy team will be there to monitor the developments closely.
Hear more from Sara as she welcomes special guests Junia Hermont, Líder Aviação, and Samantha Willenbacher, Bristow, to our upcoming webinar on the offshore market. To join them live on Thursday 14th March, register your place.
Lydia Webb, Marketing Director – Americas & Strategic Programs, Cirium
After delivering an impressive on-time performance amid the 2022 World Cup tournament, Oman Air once again achieved the highest on-time performance score of 92.53% for the Middle East and Africa region in 2023. This was also the highest score among all carriers across all categories.
Oman Air celebrated its 30th anniversary this year – a journey which began in March 1993 with a single flight between Muscat and Salalah. The airline has grown from a small regional carrier since then to an award-winning airline with over 45 destinations connecting visitors from around the world to Oman.
To meet the rising demand in tourism, the airline launched an expanded network and schedule in 2023.
To meet the rising demand in tourism, the airline launched an expanded network and schedule in 2023, with significant frequency increases on existing routes, and the addition of new destinations— representing a 60% increase in the number of flights from Muscat compared to last year.
Oman Air also took delivery of a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 from CDB Aviation in 2023 – a total fleet size of 52 aircraft. The 737 Max 8 is configured with 12 Business and 150 Economy Class seats to support the airline’s expanding network. The expanded network, schedule and fleet demonstrate Oman Air’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the economy of the Sultanate of Oman while also exhibiting its drive for increased global reach. The airline’s anticipated oneworld Alliance membership in 2024, will help broaden its network’s global reach and provide travelers with greater travel options and other benefits.
On-Time performance in the region was especially competitive with Safair (FA) following closely behind taking 2nd place with an OTP of 92.36% on 55,444 flights and Royal Jordanian (RJ) taking 3rd place with an 87.51% OTP on 32,706 flights.
Congratulations to Oman Air for its outstanding commitment to on-time performance while they continue to position themselves as a major international carrier, and has set several benchmarks for quality, comfort, and hospitality. Additionally, we commend and give honorable mention to Safair and Royal Jordanian for their fine 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
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have consistently ranked at or near the top of our Global and Asia-Pacific (APAC) categories since the inception of The On-Time Performance Awards. Last year, ANA emerged victorious in the APAC category, a source of great pride for the Japanese carrier and its team.
The results for 2023 reveal ANA’s continued success, albeit with a narrow margin.
The competition in the APAC region remained intense throughout the year, with JAL following closely behind by near fraction of percentage taking 2nd place.
Throughout the year, the OTP rankings in APAC were frequently occupied by Thai AirAsia (FD), the 20-year-old low-cost airline that showcased exceptional performance. Thai AirAsia’s achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the over 113,871 domestic and international flights it operates. As an established yet continuously expanding low-cost carrier, Thai AirAsia’s commitment to punctuality and ultimately contributing to customer satisfaction taking the #3 position in photo finish with ANA and JAL.
These carriers have truly mastered on-time performance. However, given their determination, it is likely that they will strive to further improve in 2024. While the statistical difference between the three APAC carriers is minimal, we would have preferred to see them share the award. Nevertheless, rules are rules and, as such, the 2023 APAC award goes to ANA this year, with an impressive OTP of 82.75% across 302,279 flight operations. Honorable mentions are well deserved for Japan Airlines with an OTP of 82.58% on 308,302 flights and Thai AirAsia with OTP of 82.52% on 113,871 flights for their outstanding performance in 2023.
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
Iberia Express has consistently demonstrated outstanding operational performance, distinguishing itself in the highly competitive airline industry.
In 2023, Iberia Express achieved the highest on-time performance (OTP) score in the European category, recording an impressive 84.58%.
This achievement reflects the airline’s unwavering focus on maintaining a punctual schedule-a critical factor for passengers when selecting an airline.
The airline also showed significant capacity growth for its 2023/2024 winter schedule, with a 10% increase compared to 2022. This expansion includes strengthening connections between the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, as well as expanding routes to Ibiza and several international destinations, such as Marrakech, Cairo, Dublin, Manchester, and Naples. Despite this growth, Iberia Express maintained operational discipline and effectively synchronized its schedules across its network.
Another notable achievement in 2023 was Iberia Express’s attainment of the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) environmental certification. This certification underscores the airline’s commitment to environmental sustainability, focusing on efficient operations and fleet renewal. The airline’s dedication to reducing emissions and enhancing environmental performance is commendable.
What sets Iberia Express apart from other airlines is not only its exceptional punctuality but also its strategic role within Iberia and the International Airlines Group (IAG). As a subsidiary, Iberia Express benefits from Iberia’s strong brand recognition and extensive network, while contributing significantly to the group’s overall performance and profitability. The airline’s success in maintaining high OTP rates is a key factor in bolstering the group’s reputation and reliability among passengers.
In conclusion, Iberia Express’s operational performance clearly demonstrates its excellence in the airline industry.
The airline’s punctuality, efficient operations, and strategic alignment within the Iberia and IAG frameworks differentiate it from competitors.
This performance is a sustained effort, reflecting the airline’s commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction. As the airline industry continues to face post- pandemic challenges, the team at Iberia Express has built a proven track record that positions it for continued success and growth.
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
LONDON, UK – January 30, 2024 – Cirium Ascend Consultancy, part of the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics company, Cirium, has once again demonstrated its unparalleled expertise in aircraft appraisal by winning the coveted ‘Appraiser of the Year’ award at the Airline Economics Aviation 100 Global Leaders Awards 2024. This remarkable achievement marks the ninth time that Cirium Ascend Consultancy has been honored with this prestigious award, reinforcing its position as a leading consultancy in the aviation industry.
The award, presented in Dublin at the Growth Frontiers conference, recognizes Cirium Ascend Consultancy’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in aviation analytics and consultancy. This year’s accolade is particularly significant, as it reflects the company’s dynamic adaptation and resilience in the face of ongoing global challenges, including the evolving landscape of the post-pandemic aviation industry.
Rob Morris, Global Head of Cirium Ascend Consultancy, said: “Receiving the ‘Appraiser of the Year’ award for the ninth time is not just an honor, it’s a tribute to our team’s dedication and hard work. This recognition perfectly demonstrates our commitment to providing accurate, timely, and insightful aircraft appraisals to our clients. In a year that has been full of complexities and rapid changes, this award is a reminder that our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation sets us apart. We have a team of 30 appraisers, nine of which are ISTAT certified.”
Over the years, Cirium Ascend Consultancy has consistently raised the bar in aviation analytics, providing invaluable insights that have shaped the strategies of key players in the industry.
The company’s comprehensive approach, combining cutting-edge technology with deep market knowledge, has been instrumental in offering precise appraisals and strategic advisory services.
The award further underscores Cirium Ascend Consultancy’s role in navigating the recovery and growth of the aviation market in 2024, amidst a rapidly evolving global landscape.
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.
This year’s award also highlights Cirium Ascend Consultancy’s significant impact on aviation finance, with their analytics playing a critical role in smarter investment decisions. The firm’s data and insights have proven invaluable for banks, insurers, lessors, and other financial institutions in managing risk and maximizing opportunities.
The 2024 ‘Appraiser of the Year’ award not only celebrates Cirium Ascend Consultancy’s achievements but also symbolizes the trust and confidence that the aviation community places in the firm. It is a recognition of their ability to deliver reliable and innovative solutions that drive the industry forward.
Get more information about Cirium Ascend Consultancy and their award-winning services, here.
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.
David White, Senior Director of Advanced Initiatives, Cirium
Global airlines must deal with global problems in order to fulfill their missions. 2023 presented some significant headwinds that all carriers in this category had to face.
Despite the challenges, the leading airlines managed to finish the year with impressive on-time performance metrics.
Post-pandemic growth in demand coincided with commercial aviation capacity constrained by external factors that were mostly beyond the airlines’ control. Staffing shortages among the ranks of air traffic controllers, pilots, crew, and ground services made it difficult to satisfy a rapidly rebounding demand especially in the US and Europe. Supply chain shortages delayed the delivery of more modern and efficient aircraft. Safety and reliability concerns for certain engine models caused prolonged grounding of key parts of their existing fleets. War and political violence closed heavily trafficked airspaces. Volatile fuel prices and inflation put pressure on fares and margins. Despite all of that, the global carriers, as a group, turned in a composite OTP of 83%, down only slightly from last year’s 83.6%.
In addition to the global challenges, this year’s winner in the Global OTP Category, avianca (formerly Avianca), had to deal with a unique set of situational complexities.
avianca succeeded in reinventing itself following its emergence from bankruptcy in December 2021 with a plan to modernize its fleet, improve customer satisfaction, increase operational efficiency, and to help fill the void left by the cessation of operations by low-cost Columbian carrier Viva.
avianca adapted to fill the void by adding more seats to its A320 aircraft, expanding its network, and lowering prices.
When its bid to merge with Viva and rescue the ailing carrier was denied by the Columbian civil aviation authority, avianca adapted to fill the void by adding more seats to its A320 aircraft, expanding its network, and lowering prices.
The world’s second oldest airline has made itself new again.
The world’s second oldest airline has made itself new again with new aircraft, new branding, new destinations, and an expanded mission. avianca added 7 new A320-200neo aircraft to its fleet in 2023 in addition to the 8 put into service in 2022, with more than 80 A320-200neo deliveries scheduled over the next 7 years. 2023 also marked the airline’s return to profitability after showing significant losses in 2021 and 2022. Its Q3 financial statements indicated >30% growth in passengers, ASK, and RPK over the same period in 2022. avianca embodies the qualities necessary to thrive in challenging times – agility, adaptability, resilience, determination, and a clear strategic vision. Cirium offers avianca its heart-felt congratulations on an outstanding 2023 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
Following the release of Cirium’s On-Time Performance Report for 2023, Delta Air Lines has once again been named the most punctual North American airline. The airline recorded an impressive 84.72% punctuality, the best among North American airlines, maintaining a successful performance from the previous year.
For the third year in a row, Cirium also presented the Atlanta-based carrier with the Platinum Award for Operational Excellence. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Delta’s unwavering commitment to punctuality and operational excellence. The Cirium Platinum Award, given to airlines that excel in on-time performance while navigating considerable operational complexities, reflects the hard work and dedication of Delta’s team.
The Cirium Platinum Award is not just about on-time performance; it also considers the airline’s network, volume of flights, and the ability to limit the impact of flight disruptions on passengers. Delta’s accomplishment in these areas, particularly during challenging times for the airline industry, speaks volumes about its operational efficiency and customer-focused approach.
An award presentation took place on January 24th and 25th during Delta LEAD 2024 Conference at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, to mark their outstanding achievements.
The LEAD 2024 Conference brought together 6,000 employees from Delta’s leadership team from across the company to discuss the airline’s objectives for 2024. This two-day conference set the tone for the year, discussing the airline’s finance, operations, people, customer experience (CX), and listening to external perspectives.
Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, presented Delta’s awards to Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines along with six frontline team members representing all who make on-time performance a reality for Delta. Mike Malik, Cirium Chief Marketing Officer, Lydia Webb, Cirium Marketing Director, and Kirk Nagy, Cirium Enterprise Business Development Manager, were also in attendance.
“At Cirium we have a team that is passionate about airline operations. Many have decades of airline experience; we understand the complexity and challenge of getting people to their destinations safely and on time. Delta’s accomplishment, particularly during challenging times for the airline industry, speaks volumes about its operational efficiency and customer-focused approach.”
Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium
Congratulations to the entire Delta team for their hard work and dedication, which have contributed to this amazing success. Delta’s achievement sets a high standard for operational performance in the airline industry, and it is an inspiration for others. – Jeremy Bowen.
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
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 airline industry has emerged from the shadows of the pandemic, showing signs of robust recovery and resilience. As we review the year 2023 and look forward to 2024, it’s clear that the sector is not just surviving but thriving in many aspects.
The 2023 On-Time Performance Review showcases the airline industry’s performance rebound. It’s a pleasure for Cirium to acknowledge the industry leaders of this resurgence.
A special congratulations to Delta Air Lines for winning the prestigious 2023 Platinum Award for the third year in a row, achieving an impressive 84.72% on-time rate.
Cirium’s on-time performance analysis, a staple in the industry for over 15 years, has been pivotal in evaluating the punctuality of airlines and airports. In 2023, the industry saw significant growth, with over 32+ million scheduled passenger flights. This increase, coupled with an upsurge in seat capacity, underscores the sector’s expansion. As we look towards 2024, Cirium remains committed to delivering comprehensive and unbiased on- time performance (OTP) data. This information, derived from an extensive array of sources including airlines, airports, and civil aviation authorities, offers a neutral, third-party perspective. Our independent board of advisors, experts in the field, guarantees the accuracy and fairness of our reports, ensuring they reflect a true picture of the industry’s performance.
In reviewing 2023, global passenger numbers made a significant comeback, narrowly surpassing pre-pandemic levels by the peak summer months. This recovery, while uneven across different regions, marked a pivotal moment for an industry that had faced unprecedented challenges. The US and Western European markets led the way, with passenger revenues in the US domestic market reaching 20% above 2019 levels by the third quarter.
This surge in demand, however, came with its own set of challenges, including increased competition and rising operational costs.
Business travel, a key segment for the industry, continued to lag behind due to ongoing cost management and a growing focus on sustainability within corporate policies. This was reflected in the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS), where agency bookings remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023.
Looking ahead to 2024, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic. The recovery is expected to continue, albeit at a slightly moderated pace. While passenger numbers might end slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels, revenue growth is projected to be robust, potentially surpassing 2019 figures. However, this optimism is tempered by the need for the industry to balance supply and demand effectively, especially considering the rising input costs.
The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, has shown a delayed but steady recovery trajectory, contributing to the global upswing in demand. This regional growth is expected to play a significant role in driving the global industry forward in 2024.
However, the industry faces new challenges and uncertainties. The lessons learned from the pandemic, combined with ongoing geopolitical tensions and environmental pressures, are shaping a new era of strategic thinking and operational efficiency in the airline industry.
How airlines navigate these factors will be crucial in determining their success in the coming year.
In conclusion, the airline industry is on a path to recovery, marked by significant strides in 2023 and a positive but cautious outlook for 2024.
The Cirium team looks forward to providing more critical aviation data in 2024. The journey ahead is laden with opportunities and challenges, as the sector adapts to a rapidly changing global landscape.
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
There was also a top place finish in the medium airports category for another APAC airport, with Osaka International Airport who managed an impressive 90.71% of flights on time. There was a second-place finish in the small airports category for Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) with 90.17% of flights on time, just 0.12% behind the top spot.
It should also be noted that Indigo Airlines was achieved an impressive fourth place in punctuality for the Asia Pacific Airline category with 82.12% of its flights arriving on-time. While operating nearly 680,000 flights in 2023.
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.
Indian airports performed particularly well, with podium finishes in the global and large airport categories, and there was further representation for the APAC region in the other two airport categories as well.
Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium, said: “Cirium’s annual On-Time Performance Review is a global assessment of the punctuality of all types of carriers and airports, as evidenced by the widespread representation of operations from each corner of the globe, in this year’s review. Indian airports performed particularly well, with podium finishes in the global and large airport categories, and there was further representation for the APAC region in the other two airport categories as well. I’d like to extend my congratulations to all the featured airlines and airports in this year’s review.”
Now in its 15th year, the Cirium On-Time Performance program continues to meticulously monitor global airline operational performance. Our extensive and unbiased data, derived from over 600 real-time information sources, is essential for industry stakeholders. Our data encompasses airlines, airports, global distribution systems, civil aviation authorities, and more, ensuring a comprehensive and neutral perspective.
Cirium is continuing to lead the way, worldwide, in monitoring aviation on-time performance in the New Year, as the industry adjusts to post-pandemic norms.
The company’s data and analytics are designed to provide industry stakeholders with a neutral, third-party perspective, based on the widest and deepest pool of information collected and curated from more than 600 sources of real-time flight information.
These include the airlines themselves, airports, global distribution systems, positional data, civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, proprietary data partnerships and the internet. Cirium’s on-time performance data is backed by a completely independent board of advisors, comprised of industry experts with an unbiased view of the aviation sector. The board’s oversight ensures accuracy and proper representation of all the information the company presents.
Top Performing Global Airports of 2023
Airport
On time ranking
On time departure
Totalflights
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
1
84.44%
289,817
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD)
2
84.42%
168,426
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
3
84.08%
237,461
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
4
84.01%
292,486
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
5
83.99%
226,705
Top Asia Pacific Airlines of 2023
Airline
On time ranking
On time arrival
Totalflights
All Nippon Airways (NH)
1
82.75%
302,279
Japan Airlines (JL)
2
82.58%
308,302
Thai AirAsia (FD)
3
82.52%
113,871
IndiGo (6E)
4
82.12%
678,446
Air New Zealand (NZ)
5
79.68%
175,876
DOWNLOAD THE FULL 2023 ON-TIME PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
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.
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At the turn of the year, the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market reflected the changing seasons with a gradual cooling, influenced by spiking interest rates and the rising cost of capital. Yet, in the face of these headwinds, the number of commitments and orders recorded in Cirium’s database increased to over 13,000 as of 31 December 2023, with over 3,700 secured in the past 12 months.
Data Coverage Includes:
Market Grouping
Manufacturer
Type
Comment
Regional Electric – Small
LYTE Aviation
LA-44 Skybus
Business Electric – Multi Engine
Electron
Electron 5
Business Electric – Multi Engine
Airflow
M200
Business Electric – Multi Engine
Bye Aerospace
eFlyer 800
Business Electric – Multi Engine
Eviation
Alice
Business Electric – Multi Engine
Electra
Electra eSTOL
Business Electric – Single Engine
VoltAero
Cassio 330
Business Electric – Single Engine
BETA Technologies
CX300
eVTOL – UAV/UAS
BETA Technologies
ALIA-250c
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
EHang
VT-30
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Joby Aviation
S4
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Manta Aircraft
ANN2
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Wisk Aero LLC
Cora
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Volocopter GmbH
VoloConnect
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
TCab Tech
E20 eVTOL
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Overair Inc
Butterfly
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Aerofugia
AE200
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Plana
CopterPlane CP-01
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
DuFour Aerospace
Aero3
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
AutoFlight
Prosperity 1
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
BETA Technologies
ALIA-250
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
SkyDrive
SD-05
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
EHang
EH216
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Jaunt Air Mobility
Journey
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Volocopter GmbH
VoloCity
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Archer Aviation
Midnight
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Ascendance Flight Technologies
Atea
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Odys Aviation
Odys eVTOL
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
XTI Aircraft Company
TriFan 600
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Lilium GmbH
Lilium Jet
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd
VX4
eVTOL – Urban Air Mobility
Eve Air Mobility
Eve
Regional Electric – Small
Maeve Aerospace
Maeve 01
Regional Electric – Small
Jekta
PHA-ZE 100
Regional Electric – Small
Heart Aerospace
ES-19
Programme Cancelled
Regional Electric – Small
Aura Aero
ERA
Regional Electric – Small
Heart Aerospace
ES-30
eVTOLs – Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
The competition is heating up, with Eve Air Mobility and Vertical Aerospace‘s VX4 at the forefront. Notably, Eve has won a remarkable number of orders even without a full-scale test flight, showing strong investor confidence. At the same time, other start-ups like Archer, Jaunt Air Mobility, Ascendance Flight Technologies, Volocopter, and AutoFlight are also making waves, each with about 200 orders in the past 12 months, indicating a growing interest in these eVTOL types.
Source: Cirium Fleet Analyzer, as at 31st December 2023
The order commitment landscape presented a picture of ambition and strategy, with North America leading significantly at over 3,300 orders, driven predominantly by the USA. Asia-Pacific followed with nearly 2,300 orders, where India, China, and Japan were the top contributors. Europe’s total orders stood at around 1,700, with the UK accounting for the largest share. Latin America showed a substantial number of orders at 550, mainly from Brazil.
Source: Cirium Fleet Analyzer, as at 31st December 2023
EHang First to Achieve Type Certification
In October 2023, EHang achieved a major milestone by receiving the world’s first type certification for an unmanned eVTOL, the EH216-S, from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). EHang aims to transform the experience of aerial sightseeing. The EHang EH216 orderbook includes commitments from different general aviation and business operators across Asia, with Indonesia’s Prestige Aviation ordering 101 units, China’s Shenzhen Boling Holding Group at 95 units, Malaysia’s Aerotree Flight Services Sdn Bhd at 61 units and Japan’s AirX Inc at 50 units.
Source: Cirium Fleet Analyzer, as at 31st December 2023
Business Electric – Multi-Engine
Source: Cirium Fleet Analyzer, as at 31st December 2023
In the business electric sector, Electra’s eSTOL has received more than 1,100 order commitments, including from notable clients like the helicopter lessor Bristow Group. However, the identities of the majority of these order commitments remain undisclosed. Electra’s eSTOL completed its inaugural all-electric test flight on 11 November, followed by a hybrid-electric flight on 19 November. Unlike eVTOLs, Electra’s eSTOL requires only 1/10th the length of a traditional runway, thanks to its advanced blown lift technology. This feature enables Electra’s eSTOL to offer flights to locations that lack space for conventional runways, significantly expanding potential air travel destinations and operational flexibility.
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GLOBAL SUMMARY – December 2023
While the majority of airlines saw a decrease in On-Time performance during the Christmas season, North American carriers maintained their supremacy in the global rankings in December. Despite a two-point decrease from the previous month, Delta Air Lines (DL) remained as the top airline in the Global category with an impressive OTP of 89.57%. Qatar Airways (QR) rose to second place with an OTP of 87.74%, which is a slight improvement from the previous month’s 86.06% OTP. United Airlines (UA) came in third place with an OTP of 85.80%, a near 3-point decline compared to last month’s performance. American Airlines (AA) slid to fourth place with an OTP of 84.31%, a 2-point decrease from last month’s performance. American Airlines was followed closely by Iberia (IB) with On-Time Performance of 84.30%. The Madrid-based airline, saw a near 2-point improvement over the previous month’s performance.
In APAC,Thai AirAsia (FD) took the top place in the Asia-Pacific leaderboard with an OTP of 84.09%, an impressive 4-point improvement over last month’s performance. Philippine Airlines (PR) secured the second spot, which had previously been held by Vietnam Airlines, with an OTP of 83.08%, a 1-point decrease over previous month’s performance. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines (SQ) maintained its position in third place with an OTP of 83.01%. ANA (NH) climbed to fourth place in December with an OTP of 82.59% which was a slight improvement over last month’s OTP of 81.14%. AirAsia (AK), the regional leader last month, regressed to fifth place in December with an OTP of 81.93%. This was approximately a 5-point decline in performance compared to the previous month.
In North America, Despite the hectic holiday travel season and operations, Delta Air Lines (DL) as mentioned above concluded December strongly with an impressive OTP of 89.57%. United Airlines (UA) safely secured the second place with and OTP of 85.80%, albeit a near 3-point decline over last month’s performance. American Airlines (AA) remained in third place with an OTP of 84.31%, this was a 2-point decrease compared to the previous month’s performance. Despite the drops in United Airlines and American Airlines, these are still impressive numbers by the big three. Alaska Airlines (AS) finished in fourth position with an OTP of 83.12%, while Southwest Airlines (WN) ended in fifth place with an OTP of 80.76%, a nearly 4-point decrease over last month’s performance.
In Europe,Vueling (VY) replaced Austrian (OS) as the new leader in Europe this month with an OTP of 86.04%, a minor decrease from previous month’s OTP of 86.31%. Iberia Express (I2) came in second place with an On-Time Performance of 85.73%, this was a 2-point improvement over last month’s result. Aegean Airlines (A3), a new name among the top Europe region ranking, safely secured the third spot with an OTP of 85.14%. Iberia (IB) ascended from its seventh-place last month to fourth place this month with an OTP of 84.30%, a nearly 2-point increase as compared to last month’s OTP. With a 5-point decrease from last month’s performance, Transavia France (TO), which fell to fifth place from its fourth spot with an OTP of 79.07%.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) reclaimed the top spot in the Latin America region from Azul (AD) with an OTP of 86.46%, this was a massive 4-point improvement over last month’s performance. Azul (AD) slid to second place with an OTP of 82.35%, a 2-point decrease from last month’s performance. Avianca (AV) followed Azul in third place with an OTP of 82.19%, an impressive 5-point improvement over last month’s performance. LATAM Airlines (LA) and Gol (G3) concluded the month in fourth and fifth places with OTP of 81.04% and 77.75% respectively.
In the Middle East and Africa and LCCs,Safair (FA) concluded December with an excellent OTP of 93.38%, leading both the Middle East & Africa region and the Low-Cost Carrier categories. Oman Air (WY) remained in second place this month with an OTP result of 89.15%, a 3-point decline from last month’s performance. Qatar Airways (QR) came in third place again with an OTP of 87.74%. Gulf Air (GF) secured the fourth spot with an OTP of 83.97%, this was nearly a 2-point improvement compared to last month’s OTP. Gulf Air (GF) was closely followed by Royal Jordanian (RJ) with an OTP of 83.93% for the month of December.
GLOBAL SUMMARY – November 2023
After a record-breaking Thanksgiving holiday traffic and impressive airline operations, it was no surprise that North American airlines led the global category in November. Three of the region’s biggest carriers improved their performances from the previous month and appeared in the top 5 ranking. Delta Air Lines (DL) maintained its dominance in the region with an impressive OTP of 91.29%. United Airlines (UA) followed in second place with an OTP of 88.44%. With an OTP of 86.65%, American Airlines (AA) finally joined the global leaderboard this month in third place. Qatar Airways (QR) and Azul (AD) joined their North American counterparts at #4 and #5 respectively in the Global category.
In APAC, after its fifth place ranking last month, AirAsia (AK) made a near 5-point improvement in its performance this month and soared to the top of the Asia-Pacific region leaderboard. Vietnam Airlines (VN) came in second with an OTP of 86.28%, a 3-point improvement over last month’s performance. Philippine Airlines (PR) came in third with an OTP score of 84.27%. Peach Aviation (MM) and ANA (NH) came in at #4 and #5, with an OTP of 81.25% and 81.14% respectively.
In North America, With a remarkable OTP of 91.29% and during one of the busiest travel holidays, Delta Air Lines (DL) maintained its position as the leader in the North America region in November. United Airlines (UA) secured the second spot with an OTP of 88.44%, which is a two-point improvement over the previous month’s performance. Followed closely behind in third place was American Airlines (AA), with an OTP of 86.65%. With a 6-point improvement over last month’s performance, Southwest Airlines (WN) came in at #4 this month with an OTP of 84.52% followed by Alaska Airlines (AS) with an OTP score of 84.50%.
In Europe,Austrian (OS) is the new leader in the Europe Region this month with an OTP of 87.38%. With more than 5-points improvement over last month’s performance, Vueling (VY) finally made the top 5 ranking in second place with an OTP of 86.31%. With no change in On-Time Performance this month, Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) slipped to third place with an OTP of 86.11%. On the other hand, Transavia France (TO) and Eurowings (EW) both made near 6-point improvements in performances in November and came in #4 and #5 with OTP of 84.49% and 84.22% respectively.
In Latin America,Azul (AD) is the new leader in the Latin America region this month, with an OTP of 84.49%. Despite a 2-point decline from last month’s performance, Caribbean Airlines (BW) maintained its second-place position in the region in November with an OTP of 83.96%. Copa Airlines (CM) followed Caribbean Airlines in third place with an OTP of 82.30%; a slight decline from its performance in October. Aeromexico (AM) and Sky Airlines (H2) both made improvements this month in their performances over the previous month and came in at #4 and #5, with an OTP of 81.79% and 79.13% respectively.
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air’s (WY) dominance was maintained this month with an OTP of 93%. Safair (FA) also sustained its position at number two with an OTP of 90.81%. Qatar Airways (QR) moved to the third spot in the region this month with an OTP of 87.56%, while Royal Jordanian (RJ) slid to fourth place with an OTP of 84.59%.
Among the LCCs,Safair (FA) is the leader in both the MEA region and the LCC category with a notable OTP of 93.99%; a 3-point improvement over last month’s performance. Safair’s improvement in performance was an exception among its peers this month. The remaining carriers in the top 5 ranking all experienced a decline in performance compared to October. Oman Air (WY) fell to second place this month with an OTP score of 92.68%, while Qatar Airways (QR) remained in third place with an OTP of 86.06%. Saudia (SV) and Gulf Air (GF) came in at #4 and #5, with OTP of 83.45% and 82.09% respectively.
GLOBAL SUMMARY – OCTOBER 2023
Delta Air Lines (DL) took the top spot from SA Avianca (AV) this month with an outstanding OTP of 90.84%. SA Avianca (AV) followed with an OTP of 88.78%, just a slight decline from its performance last month. Qatar Airways (QR) came in third place this month with an OTP of 87.56%. United Airlines (UA), a new name in the top five ranking, secured the fourth place this month with an OTP of 86.31%. United Airlines was followed closely by Aeromexico (AM), with an OTP of 86.08%.
In APAC,ANA (NH) is the new leader in the region with an OTP of 85.08%, a two-point improvement over the previous month’s performance. JAL (JL) retained its position in second place at the same OTP rate as the previous month (83.88%). With an OTP of 83.14%, Vietnam Airlines (VN) took the third spot in the APAC region.
In North America, with an impressive OTP of 90.84%, Delta Air Lines (DL) maintained its position as the top airline this month. This score was a 4-point improvement over the previous month’s performance. United Airlines (UA) secured the second place this month with an OTP of 86.31%. Alaska Airlines (AS) followed closely in third place with an equally impressive OTP score of 86.07%.
In Europe,Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) is the leader in the region this month with an OTP of 86.10%. Iberia Express (I2) climbed to second place with an OTP score of 85.69%, while Austrian (OS) slid to the third spot with an OTP of 85.57% this month.
In Latin America, SA Avianca (AV) maintained its dominance this month with an OTP score of 88.78%. Caribbean Airlines (BW) followed closely behind at number two with an OTP of 86.47%, almost a 3-point improvement over their September OTP performance. Aeromexico (AM) ranked third in the region this month with an OTP of 86.08%.
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air’s (WY) dominance was maintained this month with an OTP of 93%. Safair (FA) also sustained its position at number two with an OTP of 90.81%. Qatar Airways (QR) moved to the third spot in the region this month with an OTP of 87.56%, while Royal Jordanian (RJ) slid to fourth place with an OTP of 84.59%.
Among the LCCs, With an OTP of 90.81%, Safair (FA) is once again the leader in the Low-Cost Carrier category this month. Jetstar Japan (GK) climbed to the second spot with an incredible OTP of 86.94%, while Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) dropped to third place with an OTP of 86.10%.
Avianca (AV) continued its dominance in the global ranking this month with an OTP of 89.88%, almost a 3-point improvement from the previous month. Qatar Airways (QR) also maintained its position in the second spot with an OTP of 87.84%, also an improvement from their performance last month. Delta Air Lines (DL) came in third place in the global ranking with an OTP of 86.40% and showed an improvement of almost 4 points over last month. Delta was followed by Azul (AD) with an OTP of 85.71%.
In APAC, Thai AirAsia (FD) earned the top spot in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with an OTP result of 87.52%, an improvement of nearly 7 points over its performance last month. Japan Airlines (JL) showed a remarkable 13-point improvement over last month’s performance and ascended to the second place with an OTP of 83.88%. Followed closely behind was Philippine Airlines (PR) with an OTP score of 83.38%. ANA (NH) and Singapore Airlines (SQ) joined the rankings at number 4 and 5, and achieved an OTP of 83.02% and 81.34% respectively.
In North America,Delta Air Lines (DL) led North American airlines with an OTP of 86.40%. This was nearly a 4-point improvement for the airline over its performance last month. Delta was followed by Alaska Airlines (AS) with an OTP of 83.81%. United Airlines (UA) switched ranks with Alaska Airlines this month in third place, with an OTP score of 82.54%.
In Europe,Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) led the region this month with an OTP of 87.98%. Austrian (OS) followed Norwegian Air Shuttle in the second spot with an OTP score of 85.47%. Iberia Express (I2) safely secured the third spot with an OTP of 82.95%.
In Latin America,Avianca (AV) continued its dominance in the Latin America region with an OTP of 89.88%, a 3-point improvement from its performance last month. Copa Airlines (CM) followed Avianca in the second spot, also with an OTP of 89.88%. Azul (AD) came in third place with an OTP of 85.71%.
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air (WY) reclaimed the top spot this month with a remarkable OTP of 94.02%. Safair (FA) slid to second place with an OTP score of 92.29%, while Royal Jordanian (RJ) came in third place with an OTP score of 90.99%.
Among the LCCs,Safair (FA) maintained the top spot in the category with an OTP of 92.29%. Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) joined the rankings this month at number 2 with an OTP of 87.98%, followed by Thai Air Asia (FD) with an OTP of 87.52%.
Avianca (AV) returned to the top spot in the Global category this month after briefly losing it to LATAM last month, with an OTP of 86.86%. Qatar Airways (QR) moved up and followed Avianca (AV) closely in the second spot with an OTP of 85.77%. Iberia (IB) ranked third among the top performing global airlines, with an OTP of 85.76%. Azul (AD) returned as a top performer in the global category this month with an OTP of 85.37%.
In APAC, AirAsia India (I5) rose to the top rank among APAC carriers with an OTP of 86.33%. Indigo (6E) maintained its second-place spot with an OTP of 84.98%. Air New Zealand (NZ) claimed the third spot with 82.81% of its flights arriving on schedule. Garuda (GA) returned as a top performer this month in the fourth spot, with an OTP of 82.60%.
In North America,Delta Air Lines (DL) returned as the leader this month in the North American category with an OTP of 82.80%. The top spot was briefly taken by Alaska (AS) the last two months. United Air Lines (UA) followed with an OTP of 81.61% at the second spot. Alaska Airlines (AS) took the third place with an OTP of 81.52%.
In Europe,Iberia (IB) continues to lead the region with an OTP of 85.76%. Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) climbed to second place with 84.61% of its flights arriving on time. Austrian (OS) finished third with an OTP of 81.09%. Air Europa (UX) makes its debut this year among the top performers with an OTP of 80.42%.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) continues its dominance at the top spot in the Latin America category with an impressive OTP of 89.78%. Avianca (AV) and Azul (AD) came in second and third, with 86.86% and 85.37% OTP, respectively.
In the Middle East and Africa,Safair (FA) leads the region again this month with an OTP of 93.13%. Oman Air (WY), the five-month reigning leader slid to second place with an OTP of 90.39%, followed by Etihad Airways (EY) in third place with an OTP of 87.23%.
Among the LCCs,Safair (FA) is also the new leader in the LCC category with an OTP of 93.13%. Iberia Express (I2) and Spring Airlines Japan (IJ) claimed to the 2nd and 3rd spots with OTP of 88.70% and 86.76% respectively.
LATAM Airlines (LA) switched positions with Avianca (AV) this month with an OTP of 85.30% and 84.67% respectively. Saudia (SV) took the third position among the top performing global airlines with an OTP of 83.76%.
In APAC,JAL (JL) jumped to the top spot amongst APAC airlines with an OTP of 83.39%. Indigo (6E) followed with 82.04% and ANA (NH) with 81.80% of their flights arriving on-time.
In North America,Alaska Airlines (AS) for the second month in a row led North American carriers with an OTP of 82.03% over Delta Air Lines (DL) with an OTP of 78.55%. American Airlines (AA) took the third position with an OTP of 73.01%.
In Europe,Iberia (IB) led with an OTP of 80.75%. Finnair (AY) followed closely behind with 79.82% of their flights arriving on-time. Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) was in the 3rd position with an OTP of 76.97%.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM), a consistent top performer, leads the region with an OTP of 89.74%. Azul (AD) and LATAM Airlines (LA) followed respectively with 86.48% and 85.30% OTP percentages.
In the Middle East and Africa, the top airlines matched June rankings with Oman Air (WY) continuing to lead the region with an OTP of 90.73% followed by Royal Jordanian (RJ) with an OTP of 88.58% then Safair (FA) with an OTP of 88.32%.
Among the LCCs,Solaseed Air (6J) leads the category with an OTP of 89.87%. Safair (FA) was close behind with an OTP of 88.32% followed by Iberia Express (I2) with an OTP of 87.14%.
Avianca (AV) maintained the top spot amongst global airlines with an OTP of 86.61%. Following closely behind was LATAM Airlines (LA) with an 86.54% and Qatar Airways (QR) with 85% OTP.
In APAC,ANA (NH) continues to lead the region with 84.29% OTP. Air New Zealand (NZ) jumps to the 2nd position with 83.99% and IndiGo (6E) in 3rd with an 83.78%.
In North America,Alaska Airlines (AS) unseats Delta Air Lines for the top North American airline in June with an OTP of 80.33%. Delta Air Lines (DL) followed closely behind with an 79.73% OTP and American Airlines (AA) with 74.13% OTP.
In Europe,LOT Polish Airlines (LO) returns to the lead position in Europe with 82.72% of their flights arriving on-time, followed by Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) with 82.02% OTP and Iberia (IB) with 80.89% OTP.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) continues to dominate the region with an OTP of 89.46%. Avianca (AV) and LATAM Airlines (LA) follow closely behind with OTP of 86.61% and 86.54% respectively.
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air (WY) leads the region gain this month with an OTP of 93.57%. Royal Jordanian (RJ) jumps to the 2nd position with an OTP of 88.17% followed by Safair (FA) with an OTP of 87.66%.
Among the LCCs,StarFlyer (7G) jumps to the lead position in the category with an OTP of 90.82%. Solaseed Air (6J) and Hong Kong Express (UO) maintain the 2nd and 3rd positions with OTP of 89.68% and 87.74% respectively.
Avianca (AV) improved their on-time performance (OTP) by almost 3 points in May, making them the top airline globally with an OTP of 89.51%. Delta Air Lines (DL) closely followed with an OTP of 88.86%, showing a significant improvement of 5 points compared to the previous month. LATAM Airlines (LA) came in third place with an OTP of 88.23%.
In APAC,ANA (NH) led the region with an OTP of 86.04%. JAL (JL) was a close second with an OTP of 85.86% and Indigo (6E) in third with an OTP of 85.01%.
In North America,Delta Air Lines (DL) was the North American leader once again with an OTP of 88.86%. Alaska Airlines (AS) followed with an OTP of 84.69% and American Airlines (AA) with an OTP of 83.91%.
In Europe,Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) took the lead in May with an on-time performance (OTP) of 89.25%, surpassing the previous leader LOT Polish Airlines (LO) with an OTP of 88.68%. Iberia (IB) secured the third position with an OTP of 86.63%.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) continues to lead the region with an OTP of 93.44%. Avianca (AV) and Azul (AD) follow closely behind with OTP of 89.51% and 89.03% respectively.
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air (WY) lead the region this month with an OTP of 95.08% followed by Safair (FA) with an OTP of 93.56% and Gulf Air (GF) with an OTP of 89.37%.
Among the LCCs,Safair (FA) continues to lead the category with an OTP of 93.56%, an improvement of just over 3 points from the previous month. Solaseed (6J) and Hong Kong Express (UO) follow with an OTP of 93.09% and 92.78% respectively.
Air New Zealand (NZ) Emerges as the Leader in the APAC Region, and LOT Polish Airlines (LO) Secures the Top Spot Among European Airlines
Iberia (IB) is the global leader in the Global Airlines category with an OTP of 87.28%, a 6pt improvement from March. Avianca (AV) follows closely behind with an OTP of 86.83% and LATAM (LA) with an OTP of 85.80%.
In APAC,Air New Zealand (NZ) is the new leader in APAC region with an OTP of 84.55%, an improvement of 6pts from March. IndiGo (6E) follows tightly behind with an OTP of 84.49%, a decline of just over 4pts from the previous month. JAL (JL) takes the the 3rd position with an OTP of 83.95%.
In North America,Delta Air Lines (DL) continues to lead all carriers in the region with an OTP of 83.29%. Delta is followed by Alaska (AS) with an OTP of 82.02% and American Airlines (AA) with an OTP of 78.95%.
In Europe,LOT Polish Airlines (LO) jumps to the top spot amongst European airlines with a strong OTP result of 89.25%. LOT Polish Airlines is followed closely by Iberia (IB) with an OTP of 87.28% and Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) with an OTP of 87.15%.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) continues to lead the region with an OTP of 93.26%. Avianca (AV) and Azul (AD) follow closely behind with OTP of 86.83% and 86.38% respectively.
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air (WY) maintains the top position with an OTP of 92.58%, just edging Safair (FA) with an OTP of 92.20%. Royal Jordanian (RJ) follows with OTP of 87.74%.
Among the LCCs,Safair (FA) continues to lead the category with an OTP of 92.20%. Solaseed (6J) and Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) follow with an OTP of 89.69% and 87.15% respectively.
New Leaders Azul and IndiGo Emerge in Global and APAC
Azul (AD) is the new leader in the Global Airlines category. Azul takes the leadership position from KLM (KL) this month with an OTP of 89.87%. This is also more than a 4pt improvement from their performance last month (84.37%). ANA (NH) follows Azul with an OTP of 87.24%, also showing a 5pt improvement from last month (82.30%).
In APAC,IndiGo (6E) is the new leader in the APAC region. IndiGo takes the lead position with an OTP of 89.02% from Thai AirAsia (FD) who had led the pack for two consecutive months. Vietnam Airlines (VN) makes a remarkable improvement to their OTP performance this month (85.00%) over last month (78.42%) to make their debut in the top 5 ranking at #4.
In North America, with an OTP of 80.93%, Delta Air Lines (DL) continues to lead the North America region. This is a slight decline from its performance last month (84.82%). Alaska (AS) follows Delta closely at #2, with an OTP of 79.57%. The North American airlines experienced a decline in performance because of the Spring break holiday traffic and with the series of bad weather systems. This is evident in the OTP performance of the top 5 performers this month.
In Europe,Austrian Airlines (OS) is once again the leader in the Europe region with an OTP of 88.66%. This is a decline from their last month’s performance (91.09%). LOT Polish (LO) follows Austrian closely with an OTP of 88.32%; an improvement from their previous month’s performance (85.62%).
In Latin America, for three consecutive months, Copa Airlines (CM) is the leader in the Latin America region. With an OTP of 92.14%, the Panama-based airline maintains its lead in the region. Azul (AD) follows Copa at #2 with an OTP of 89.87%. This is more than a 5pt improvement in their last month performance (84.37%).
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air (WY) takes the lead back from Safair (FA) this month with an OTP of 94.98%. Safair however follows Oman Air closely at #2 with an OTP of 93.68%; a slight decline from their performance last month (94.89%).
Among the LCCs,Safair (FA) maintains its lead in the Low-Cost category this month with an OTP of 93.68%; a slight decline from their performance last month (94.89%). StarFlyer (7G) follows Safair at #2 with an OTP of 92.28%; although a small reduction from their performance last month (92.85%).
KLM is the New Leader in the Global Airlines Category
With an OTP of 89.66%, KLM (KL) airline takes the top spot from Iberia. The airline makes a 3pt improvement from their last month’s performance (86.20%). Iberia (IB) follows closely with an OTP of 89.57%; also showing a 3pt improvement from last month (86.60%).
In APAC, Thai AirAsia (FD) is once again the leader in the APAC region with an OTP of 89.03%; a slight decline from their January performance (90.68%). IndiGO (6E) and China Southern (CZ) make their debut in the top five at #2 (87.78%) and #5 (82.99%) respectively.
In North America,Delta Air Lines (DL) maintains its lead in the North America region with an OTP of 84.82%; nearly 5pts higher than last month’s performance (79.88%). This is not an isolated incident in the region. All the top five performers showed improvement from last month and December. Southwest Airlines (WN) follows Delta at #2 with an OTP of 82.43%; a remarkable improvement from December’s performance (69.40%).
In Europe,Austrian Airlines (OS) is the new leader in the Europe region. With an impressive OTP of 91.09%, the airline takes the lead from Air Europa (UX). Like its North American counterparts, all the European top performers showed significant improvement from last month and December.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) maintains its lead in the Latin America region this month with an impressive OTP of 94.39%. Sky Airlines (H2) once again follows Copa at number 2; with an OTP of 89.02%. VivaAir (VH) makes its debut in the top five ranking this month at #4 with an OTP of 86.16%.
In the Middle East and Africa,Safair (FA) is the new leader in the Middle East & Africa region. The South African-based airlines takes the lead from Oman Air (WY) with an OTP of 94.89%. But Oman Air follows closely at #2 with an OTP of 92.88%. Ethiopian Airlines (ET) makes its debut in the top 5 ranking this month in the region at #5 with an OTP of 86.03; almost a 10pt improvement from its performance last month (75.48%).
Among the LCCs, with an OTP of 94.89, Safair (FA) also takes the lead from Solaseed this month in the Low-Cost Carriers category.
Iberia Continues to Be in Top the Leadership Spots
Iberia (IB) starts the year off with a strong performance and takes the lead with an OTP of 86.80%, almost a four-point improvement from December (82.91%). After missing in the top 10 last month, Latam Airlines (LA) appears in this month’s top 5 ranking at number 4 with an OTP of 86.19%. Aeromexico (AM) finishes at number 5 with an OTP of 85.30%; a vast improvement from last month (77.24%).
In APAC, Thai AirAsia (FD) is the leader in the APAC region this month with an OTP of 90.68%. Air China (CA) follows in second place with an OTP of 87.60%. Lucky Air (8L) and Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) make their debut in the top five and follow each other very closely at number 4 and 5 respectively; and OTP of 85.58% and 85.24%. This month no Indian airlines feature in the top ten, seasonal weather conditions playing their part in disrupting schedules.
In North America,Delta Air Lines (DL) continues to lead in North America with an OTP of 79.88%. American Airlines (AA) follows very closely at number two with an OTP of 79.76%. This is an improvement from December’s performance (76.04%) for the Texas-based airline.
In Europe, Air Europa (UX) is the new leader in the Europe region, with an OTP of 88.68%. This is a huge improvement for Air Europa who finished fourth last month with an OTP of 79.46%. Vueling (VY) returns to the top 5 ranking at number 2 with an OTP of 88.67%: nearly missing the top spot after missing for almost nine months.
In Latin America,Copa Airlines (CM) is the new leader in the Latin America region. The Panama City-based airline returns to the top spot with an impressive OTP of 90.79%. Copa is followed by Sky Airlines (H2) at number 2; with an OTP of 87.73%; an improvement in performance from last month (84.19%).
In the Middle East and Africa,Oman Air (WY) continues to lead in the MEA region; with an impressive OTP of 92.14%. Royal Jordanian (RJ) follows at number two with an OTP of 89.90%.
Among the LCCs,Solaseed Air (6J) takes the lead from Sky Airline as the leader in this category with an OTP of 92.23%; an improvement from last month (88.36%). StarFlyer (7F) and Thai AirAsia (FD) follow closely at #2 (90.71%) and #3 (90.68%) respectively.
You can find out more on Cirium’s On-Time Performance portfolio and download reports here.
Luis Felipe de Oliveria, Director General, ACI World
According to ACI World, 2024 is expected to be a milestone for global passenger traffic as it reaches 9.4 billion passengers, surpassing the year 2019 that welcomed 9.2 billion passengers (102.5% of the 2019 level).
Upside factors include the consolidation of the reopening of the Chinese market and surge in domestic travel, supply chain disruptions gradually subsiding, and inflation slowing down.
While downside risks remain present, we continue to witness the dedicated efforts and commitment of ACI airport members and partners—such as their on-time performance—and we are filled with optimism about the industry’s future.
The airport categories in the On-Time Performance Review are based on the current level of flight activity. American airports reached great results with Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) leading in the Global and Large airport categories. American Airports – Salt Lake City International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport take fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth place respectively in the Global category. Indian airports strengthen their on-time performance and continue last year’s trend – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Kempegowda International Airport leap to second and third place in both the Global and Large Airport categories.
Japanese airports continue to prove their on-time performance lead with Osaka International Airport holding first position in the Medium Airport category, while Chubu Centrair International Airport takes second position in the Small Airport category.
Latin American airports make significant headway in all airport categories; Mariscal Sucre International Airport leads in the Small Airport category and Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport achieve third place; Tocumen International Airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport, and Brasilia International Airport secure second, third and fourth in the Medium airports category; and El Dorado International Airport the fourth in the Global and Large airports categories–all participating in the top 5 of their respective groups.
Their stellar performance could not be better timed: Latin America and the Caribbean is in fact forecasted by ACI World to be the first region to surpass its 2019 level, reaching 707 million passengers, or 102.9% of the 2019 level by the end of 2023.
It is clear that airlines’ performance is attached to airport results and vice versa, showing once more the joint efforts to build efficiency with benefits for passengers and the whole aviation ecosystem. Congratulations to the top airports in each of the categories for their exceptional on-time performance as we continue to build a sustainable aviation ecosystem fit to welcome current and future travellers with efficiency, performance, and an exceptional passenger experience. We can only operate successfully and reach new heights as an ecosystem when all aviation stakeholders come together around the needs of passengers and communities worldwide.
Cirium Ascend Consultancy is trusted by clients across the aviation industry to provide accurate, timely, and insightful aircraft appraisals. The team provides the valuations and analysis the industry relies on to understand the market outlook, evaluate risks and identify opportunities.
Thomas Sweeney, Valuations Associate, Cirium Ascend Consultancy
Demand for aircraft and seats is high across the aviation industry and by most measures, is at or above 2019 levels. Growth and values are therefore driven primarily by supply, which remains constrained. OEM production is arguably the most significant factor in this, with other constraints such as low lessor availability of aircraft a downstream effect. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of Airbus and Boeing commercial deliveries during 2023 helps illustrate the current supply landscape and gives an indication of how it might evolve over the next year and beyond.
In the calendar year 2023, data from Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer shows that Airbus delivered 721 commercial aircraft (including passenger and freighter aircraft but not business airliners) and Boeing delivered 504. These figures are provisional until OEM confirmation, but any differences would be minor. Some sources have reported around 10 more Airbus aircraft than shown here. Both companies have increased their output from 2022, Airbus by 66 and Boeing by 54. Notably, Airbus achieved its goal set out in the beginning of 2023 to deliver 720 commercial aircraft.
Splitting into each aircraft type makes clear where each company has succeeded and fallen short:
Unlike Airbus, Boeing did not set a clear overall target for commercial deliveries. Instead, it laid out targets for their two most significant types, 737 Max and 787, during investor meetings. Their targets were 400-450 for the 737 Max and 70-80 for the 787 at the beginning of the year. Boeing later revised down its 737 Max target during Q4 2023 to 375-400, in anticipation of missing the original figures. Boeing finished the year with 386 737 Max deliveries, achieving only the revised target. It delivered 73 787s, in line with its original aim. Airbus made its target primarily through deliveries of the A320, A321 and A350.
Boeing’s underperformance on 737 Max deliveries is mainly a result of the manufacturing defects discovered in April and August. This becomes very clear looking at 737 Max deliveries by month over 2023:
Both defects were a result of quality problems with parts supplied by Spirit AeroSystems. In both cases, Boeing was able to recover deliveries within two or three months but not without very significant effects on the numbers during that time. Looking forward, Boeing’s ability to deliver these will be determined by whether it can avoid further issues of this nature. The manufacturer has proved itself able to deliver between 40-50 aircraft per month several times over the past year and consistently achieving even the low end of that range would result in a significant increase in delivered aircraft in 2024. Despite making significant progress on last year, the 787 programme was also hit with multiple manufacturing issues in H1 2023.
The delivery rate dropped to as low as one in the month of February but rose to 11 by December.
To see real progress in 2024 and beyond, the most significant step for Boeing will be to turn the corner on these manufacturing issues and cement a steady pipeline of aircraft deliveries. It remains to be seen whether the recent 737-9 (Max) accident and subsequent FAA inspection AD which has grounded around 160 aircraft, will have a material effect on this aim. Cirium data estimates that fewer than 30 737-9s are scheduled to be delivered in 2024, around 5% of the total scheduled 737 Max deliveries.
Airbus has not been without its own problems, especially in the widebody market. A350 supply chain constraints in most of 2023 restricted deliveries to the extent that the total for the year slightly decreased from 2022. Like the 787, deliveries were beginning to ramp up in the final months of 2023 – if that continues, we can expect at least some increase in A350 numbers during 2024. It was largely a successful year in 2023 for the A320 family, with a combined total of 563 deliveries for the A319, A320 and A321. Airbus stated in early 2023 that supply chain issues will delay deliveries of some A320 family aircraft in 2024, but with time to prepare for that situation, it will likely be less significant than recent issues with the 737 Max.
This data also reveals something significant for fleet distribution in the medium-to-long term.
Airbus has now fully transitioned to new generation aircraft, either to the Neo version of existing models or fully new aircraft.
About 18% of Boeing’s output was freighter variants of legacy models, the 747, 767 and 777. Boeing delivered its last 747F in 2023 and ICAO emission regulations mean the 767F and legacy GE90-powered 777F will have to be phased out by 2027. Boeing has historically been dominant in the factory freighter market but will be challenged with the introduction of the A350F. Boeing hopes to maintain both its freighter output and market position with introduction of the 777-8F, but with continued uncertainty over the timeframe for introduction of the 777X, this is far from guaranteed to be a smooth transition. Boeing may supplement its freighter deliveries with a 787F, but recent history raises questions over how quickly it could establish a reliable pipeline for either of these aircraft. Airbus could certainly have as many issues with the A350F but the fact remains that it already has almost a 60% share in total deliveries without producing any freighters – Boeing will need a solid transition to new generation freighters to simply maintain that gap and will need to perform very well to close it.
Airbus may be looking in a better position relative to Boeing at this moment, but it must not be overlooked that both are performing far worse than was expected two years ago.
The Cirium Fleet Forecast 2021 (released in Q4 of that year) predicted just over 860 deliveries for Airbus and around 720 for Boeing in 2023, over 140 and 200 more respectively than was achieved. Our forecast demand in that analysis was essentially correct – further evidence that the current heated environment across aviation is a result of the supply environment and can be expected to continue for some time to come.
