Takeaways:
- Aeromexico topped the global airline rankings for on-time arrivals in 2024.
- Delta Air Lines led U.S. carriers despite a major tech outage.
- Severe weather and technology issues challenged airlines in 2024.
Aeromexico was the global leader in on-time arrivals last year, with nearly 87% of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, according to a new report by aviation-data provider Cirium. The rankings, which Cirium has been compiling for 16 years, highlight the operational challenges airlines faced in 2024, including severe weather and technical disruptions.
Global Rankings: Aeromexico Takes the Lead Aeromexico’s stellar performance edged out Saudia, the flagship airline of Saudi Arabia, which achieved an on-time rate of just over 86%. Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, ranked third globally and was the top U.S. carrier with an 83% on-time performance rate. United Airlines (81%) and Alaska Airlines (79%) followed as the next-best performers among U.S. airlines.
Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen noted, “Despite a challenging year marked by weather disruptions and technological setbacks, these airlines have demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment to their passengers.”
Challenges in the Industry Delta’s performance is particularly notable given a major computer outage in July 2024 caused by a flawed update from cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike to Microsoft systems. This incident resulted in thousands of flight cancellations and a $500 million lawsuit filed by Delta against CrowdStrike. The airline argued that other carriers recovered more quickly from the same issue, which further underlined the operational hurdles faced by Delta during the summer.
Regional Leaders Around the globe, other airlines earned accolades for their punctuality:
- Japan Airlines led in Asia.
- Iberia Express, a low-cost carrier, stood out in Europe.
- Copa Airlines excelled in Latin America.
- FlySafair, a South African low-cost airline, topped the rankings in Africa.
Airports Setting the Standard Airports also played a crucial role in maintaining on-time operations. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, led globally with 87% of flights departing on time. Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, and Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City followed closely, with over 84% of flights leaving on schedule.
Room for Improvement While the top-performing airlines and airports received accolades, some carriers lagged behind. Canada’s WestJet, Air Canada, and U.S.-based budget airline Frontier Airlines struggled with on-time rates below 72%. These figures highlight the disparities in operational efficiency across the industry.
Looking Ahead The 2024 rankings underscore the importance of resilience and adaptability in the airline industry. As weather events and technological challenges become increasingly common, airlines and airports must continue to invest in infrastructure and technology to improve performance and passenger satisfaction