Most On-Time Airlines in 2024 Announced with American Carrier in Top Three

A new study has revealed the airlines around the world that were most on-time in 2024, with an American passenger carrier making the top three. Cirium, a leading information technology company in aviation, has released its 2024 on-time performance review, ranking airlines and airports based on how well they performed in terms of on-schedule flights throughout last year. Newsweek has contacted Cirium for comment via email. Two American carriers made the top ten list, with Delta ranked third and United Airlines at number 10.

However, the best on-time airline of the last year, according to the report, was Aeromexico, which had an on-time arrival score of 86.70 percent, having operated 196,911 flights in 2024. In second place is Saudia, which received an on-time arrival score of 86.35 percent. Delta Air Lines claims the number three spot with a score of 83.46 percent. The complete top 10 list of the best performing airlines globally when it comes to on-time arrival is:

1. Aeromexico
2. Saudia
3. Delta Air Lines
4. LATAM Airlines
5. Qatar Airways
6. Azul
7. Avianca
8. Iberia
9. SAS
10. United Airlines

The report also revealed the top ten performing airlines in North America, with Delta coming out on top followed by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines in third. The top 10 most on-time airlines in North America in 2024 were:

1. Delta Air Lines
2. United Airlines
3. Alaska Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Southwest Airlines
6. Spirit Airlines
7. JetBlue
8. Frontier Airlines
9. Air Canada
10. WestJet

"In an industry defined by operational complexity, we are extremely proud to be celebrating the airlines and airports who have provided customers the most on-time flights and best performance in 2024, acknowledging their operational excellence," said Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO. "2024 was a difficult year for airlines, facing a large-scale IT outage, and unseasonable and severe weather patterns. Despite these challenges, these airlines and airports have worked tirelessly to ensure their customers have a smooth journey and reach their destination on-time." Delta received special recognition as the 2024 Cirium Platinum Winner, being praised for its "commitment to delivering superior on-time performance amidst the complexities of a global airline operation." The airline, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, has won this award for the fourth year in a row. Delta was lauded for its ability to handle crises such as "a significant technological setback caused by a worldwide software issue in July, affecting key operational systems." Delta "bore the brunt of the issue" with nearly 7,000 flights disrupted over five days, the report says. Delta was also recognised for growing its fleet with an order for an additional 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft for delivery in 2026. The airline was also praised for "an ambitious Latin American and Caribbean winter schedule, adding 35,000 seats across multiple routes." Riyadh King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia was named the world's most on-time airport, followed by Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport in Peru and Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico. Has a dream vacation turned into a nightmare? Whether it's a missed flight or lost luggage, we want to hear about your travel disasters. Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.