Isaac Pato, Senior Data Analyst, Cirium
With an impressive on-time departure rate of 91.47% across 34,068 tracked flights, GYE demonstrated exceptional consistency while serving 19 routes. This achievement underscores the airport’s ability to deliver world-class performance in a category defined by airports handling between 5 million and 15 million seats annually.
The qualification criteria for this award emphasize comprehensive flight operations and reliability, ensuring recognition for airports that balance regional connectivity with global service standards. GYE’s success is particularly notable given the operational challenges of 2025, including scheduled runway maintenance closures in September that required temporary suspension of all flight operations. These proactive infrastructure upgrades highlight the airport’s commitment to long-term safety and efficiency, even as it maintained industry-leading punctuality throughout the year.
Small airports often face unique constraints, managing diverse route networks while maintaining reliability.
GYE’s achievement reflects strategic coordination among airlines, ground handlers, and air traffic control, enabling seamless travel experiences despite seasonal disruptions.
Its performance outpaced strong contenders such as El Salvador International Airport (SAL), which posted an on-time departure rate of 90.28% across 47,203 flights and 34 routes, and Rio de Janeiro’s Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), which achieved 89.67% punctuality with 58,303 flights and 7 routes. These results highlight the growing emphasis on reliability in Latin America, a region where operational resilience is increasingly critical.
Beyond Latin America, airports like Stavanger (SVG) and Cape Town (CPT) also demonstrated competitive performance, signaling a global trend toward process optimization and technology-driven efficiency. For travelers and airlines alike, this translates into fewer delays, improved connectivity, and enhanced confidence in regional gateways. The top five airports in this category collectively illustrate how smaller hubs are leveraging innovation and disciplined operations to deliver world-class punctuality.
Looking ahead, Guayaquil’s leadership in this category illustrates how smaller hubs can achieve excellence through strategic investment and operational rigor. As the aviation industry continues to navigate evolving challenges,
GYE stands as a model of success, proving that size does not limit the ability to deliver superior performance.
