2025’s Top Airlines and Airports for Punctuality

As air travel continues to grow, punctuality remains a pivotal aspect for both airlines and airports. In 2025, a staggering 38.9 million flights are expected to operate globally. Challenges such as staffing shortages and unpredictable weather further complicate adherence to schedules. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports on the best performers in punctuality, highlighting 12 airports and airlines that excelled in this vital area last year.

2025’s Top Airports for Punctuality

Istanbul Airport (IST) emerged as the Platinum Winner in the airport category. In 2025, it handled over 84 million passengers across 330 destinations. Notably, it became Europe’s first airport to implement triple independent runway operations, increasing its capacity from 120 to 148 movements per hour. Its on-time performance (OTP) for the year was 80.72%, ranking it as the 19th best large airport globally.

Other Top Airports

• Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) – Large airport with 87.04% punctuality across 153,326 flights.
• Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) – Best medium airport with 93.34% punctuality from 148,065 flights.
• Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) – Leading small airport at 91.47% punctuality across 34,068 flights.

Cirium classifies large airports as those managing 25 to 50 million seats annually, medium airports handling 15 to 20 million seats, and small airports exceeding 5 million but falling below 15 million.

2025’s Top Airlines for Punctuality

Qatar Airways claimed the title of Platinum Winner airline, achieving an impressive 84.42% on-time performance. They managed 198,303 flights and successfully navigated disruptions caused by airspace constraints and weather variations.

Notable Airline Performances

• Aeroméxico – Top global airline with 90.02% punctuality across 188,859 flights.
• Philippine Airlines – Best in Asia Pacific with 83.12% punctuality from 116,268 flights.
• Delta Air Lines – Leading North American airline at 80.9% punctuality from over 1.8 million flights.
• Iberia Express – Europe’s best airline at 88.94% punctuality from 37,119 flights.
• Copa Airlines – Top airline in Latin America at 90.75% punctuality across 133,748 flights.
• FlySafair – Leading airline in Middle East and Africa with 91.06% punctuality from 62,805 flights.
• Virgin Atlantic – Most improved airline at 83.45% punctuality, up from 74.01% in 2023.

As these airlines and airports navigate the complexities of global travel in 2025, their commitment to maintaining punctuality is commendable. The recognition from Cirium demonstrates the importance of reliability in enhancing passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency.