Jeremy Bowen, Chief Executive Officer, Cirium
From persistent air traffic control staffing challenges in North America to hardened airspace closures in the Middle East, airlines and airports have navigated a constantly shifting landscape. Supply chain bottlenecks grounded new-generation aircraft for engine inspections just as demand surged; weather volatility disrupted major hubs with increasing frequency; and yet despite this complexity, the industry responded with excellence.
Honoring the Standard-Bearers of 2025
It is in this demanding context that the winners of the 2025 Cirium On-Time Performance Review truly stand out. Their results reflect more than statistics; they demonstrate operational discipline, strategic investment, and the ability to solve complex logistical challenges in real time.
I am delighted to announce that Qatar Airways secured the Platinum Award for airlines, demonstrating sustained operational excellence that sets the benchmark for carriers worldwide. Their year-over-year consistency proves that reliability is a culture at the airline. Istanbul Airport also secured the Platinum Award for airports.
Aeromexico takes top honors as the Global Airline winner with an exceptional 90.02% on-time performance. Navigating a complex network while maintaining world-leading punctuality is an achievement that deserves global recognition.
In the airport category, a definitive leader has emerged from the pack. Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, is the winner of the Large Airport Award, delivering an impressive 87.04% on-time departure rate. Their performance reflects commitment to building world-class infrastructure that handles rapid growth without sacrificing efficiency.
Innovation Driving Deeper Insights
This year marks an exciting evolution in how the industry engages with Cirium’s on-time performance data. The OTP Awards AI, introduced in last year’s review, has been embraced by industry professionals and media alike as a powerful tool for exploring operational trends. I encourage you to experience the AI assistant and unlock detailed analysis tailored to your specific questions. (https://www.cirium.com/analytics-services/aviation-ai/on-time-performance-awards-ai/)
Earlier this year, we published the inaugural EmeraldSky Flight Emissions Review, (https://www.cirium.com/solutions/emeraldsky-data-and-methodology-for-aircraft-emissions/flight-emissions-review/ ) which generated significant interest across the industry. For the first time, airlines can benchmark emissions performance at a granular level using consistent methodology across all carriers. The insights are fascinating, and I urge those who missed it to explore the report. The 2026 EmeraldSky Review will be released in early 2026 and promises to build on this foundation with even deeper analysis.
Looking ahead, Cirium continues to invest heavily in AI-powered analytics across our entire portfolio. In 2026, we will launch new solutions focused on predictive analytics, giving airlines and airports the foresight to refine operational and strategic decision-making before disruptions occur. As the industry evolves, our mission remains constant to deliver the independent, real-time data and analytics that power better decisions.
The Path Forward
Congratulations to all the winners and top performers for 2025. The structural challenges we face in staffing, aircraft availability, and accessible airspace will not disappear overnight. But as this year’s winners have demonstrated, they can be managed with the right tools, data, and commitment to operational excellence.
Powered by verified data from more than 2,000 sources, including airlines, airports, and civil aviation authorities, Cirium continues to set the gold standard for aviation analytics. The 2025 On-Time Performance Review is more than a scorecard; it is a blueprint for how the best in the world operate and their best practices.
As we approach 2026, the accomplishments of the winners highlighted here convey an important message:
operational excellence can be attained even within challenging constraints. We also wish to recognize and commend all individuals whose efforts support airlines and airports in attaining on-time performance. This includes professionals in flight operations, crew scheduling, ground operations, maintenance and engineering, customer service, gate management, and numerous other essential roles.
The insights in this review, combined with Cirium’s real-time analytics, give you the intelligence to make that excellence a reality at your organization. I look forward to seeing more airlines and airports join the ranks of top performers next year.
