Aeromexico tops global on-time performance in 2024, What Cirium data reveals you need to know

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Aeromexico has been recognized as the world’s most punctual airline for 2024, achieving an impressive on-time performance rate of 86.70 percent, according to the latest On-Time Performance Review by aviation analytics firm Cirium.

This marks the third consecutive year that a South American carrier has led the global on-time performance rankings, with Aeromexico surpassing the previous year’s champion, Avianca, which now ranks seventh.

Saudia Airlines made notable strides, vaulting to second place this year with an on-time performance rate of 86.35 percent, up from ninth position in 2023.

Delta Air Lines rounded out the top three, achieving an 83.46 percent on-time rate, a slight improvement from its fourth-place finish last year.

In North America, Delta Air Lines stood out once again, winning the prestigious Cirium Platinum Award for global operational excellence for the fourth straight year, despite facing operational challenges during July’s CrowdStrike IT outage.

“Delta rebounded, showcasing their effective crisis management and the depth of their operational infrastructure,” the report noted. United Airlines captured the second position among North American carriers, ranking 10th globally with 80.93 percent, while Alaska Airlines followed closely in third at 79.25 percent.

American Airlines, which held second place last year, fell to fourth at 77.78 percent. Iberia emerged as the leading European airline with an 81.58 percent on-time rate, while Iberia Express led the regional standings at 84.69 percent.

It was noted that global and regional rankings differ due to varying qualification criteria, according to Cirium.

In Latin America, Copa Airlines secured the top position at 88.22 percent, followed by Aeromexico and Caribbean Airlines at 85.47 percent. Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan Airlines achieved the highest ranking at 80.90 percent, with All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines close behind.

Airlines are classified as “on time” if a scheduled flight arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled time.

On-Time Airports Recognition

On the airport front, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, led the global rankings for on-time performance in 2024, boasting an 86.65 percent punctuality rate.

Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport followed in second and third places, achieving 84.57 percent and 84.04 percent, respectively.

In the category of large airports, Riyadh topped the list, while Honolulu International Airport snatched the second place, with Lima taking third.

Notably, to qualify for global status, airports must connect to three regions, which precluded Honolulu from eligibility.

The performance of medium airports was highlighted by Panama Tocumen International Airport’s impressive 90.34 percent, followed by Brasilia International Airport and Osaka Itami International Airport.

Among U.S. medium airports, Portland, San Jose, and Sacramento also made the top ten.

Ecuador’s Guayaquil Jose Joaquin del Olmedo International Airport led the small airport category with a notable 91.38 percent on-time rate, followed closely by Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.

In a new initiative, Cirium introduced a Platinum Award for Operational Excellence in airports, with El Dorado Bogota International Airport earning the inaugural honor.

The on-time performance of airports is determined based on departure times being within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure.

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