Aviation is one of the fastest and most efficient means of transportation. In a matter of hours, long distances can be traversed, linking continents and hemispheres. Thanks to an airplane, we can wake up in New York and go to bed in Mexico City, London or Cairo. But when that efficiency doesn’t come, it can be very annoying. That’s why it’s important to know which are the most punctual airports and also the most punctual airlines in 2023.

The information, released by Cirium, a company dedicated to providing aviation statistics, shows some striking data, including strong surprises. With the information available, they create the On-Time Performance (OTP) Annual Review, which brings this information together.

Most punctual airports

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), in the United States, led as the most punctual airport in 2023. This is the result of an impressive 84.44% of flights departing on time throughout the year. The figure is very positive considering that 289,817 flights were operated there, or almost 800 a day.

This airport is an important hub for Delta Air Lines, one of the largest (and most punctual) in the world. The low-cost carrier Sun Country Airlines also operates many flights from there. In addition, it is home to the Joint Air Reserve Station, a military base for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard flight operations.

However, the ranking was almost tied. With 84.42%, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad, India, ranked as the second most punctual airport, with a total of 168,426 flights during the year. It is an air terminal that began operating in 2008 and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Third place also goes to Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) in India, which serves the city of Bangalore. With 237,461 flights in 2023, it had an on-time departure performance of 84.08%.

In fourth place was El Dorado Airport in Bogota, Colombia. With 84.01% on-time performance, having operated 292,486 departures, it is the busiest terminal in the top 5 of the most punctual terminals. It is also the only one located outside the United States and India.

Finally, fifth place on the list goes to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). The Utah State Capital Airport achieved 83.99% of its departures on schedule, an achievement considering the 226,705 operations in 2023.

Most Punctual Airlines of 2023

In addition to airports, Cirium also revealed the most on-time airlines in 2023. First place went to Colombia’s Avianca Airlines, which stood out with an impressive 85.73% on-time performance for the 213,039 flights it operated.

In second place was a low-cost carrier, Azul Airlines (Brazil), with 85.51%, the result of 310,972 operations. Although its operations are concentrated in Brazil and South America, it also has frequencies to the United States, France and Portugal.

In third place is Qatar Airways, which operated 85.11% of its 183,090 flights in 2023, one year after its World Cup experience. Fourth place goes to Delta Air Lines, which achieved an 84.72% on-time performance, but on a whopping 1,635,486 air operations. The ranking is closed by Spain’s Iberia, with an on-time performance of 84.38% on its 170,750 flights.

The most punctual airlines in each region

Cirium also released a detailed report on the most punctual airlines in each region. The results show a strong performance, with all airlines above 76% on-time performance.

In North America, Delta is followed by Alaska Airlines, which achieves 82% on-time performance. Next in the ranking is American Airlines, the airline that carries the most passengers in the world, which performed 80.61% of its 1,998,844 flights on time in 2023. United Airlines was on time for 80% of its 1,513,432 flights, while Southwest Airlines closes the list with 76% on time.

In Europe, the leader is Iberia. In fact, strictly speaking, it is its low-cost subsidiary, Iberia Express, that is the most punctual, with 84.58%, but it only operated 40,985 flights. The parent company follows, with its aforementioned 84.38%. The ranking is closed by Austrian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, all with around 82% punctuality.

In Latin America, Copa Airlines outperforms Avianca, but as it operates half as many flights, it is left out of the world ranking. Along with Azul Airlines, the regional top 5 is completed by LATAM and Caribbean Airlines.

Asia Pacific did not manage to place any of its airlines in the world top. However, with 82% on-time performance, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Thai AirAsia and IndiGo stand out. Air New Zealand finishes fifth, with 79% on-time performance.

The Middle East and Africa show impressive on-time numbers, but with fewer flights. Oman Air achieves a 92.53% on-time performance on 45,908 flights, close behind South Africa’s Safair, which operated 92.36% of its 55,444 flights on time. Rounding out the top 5 are Royal Air Jordanian, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.