Chennai Airport Tops Metro Punctuality for Three Months, DGCA Data Reveals

Chennai International Airport (MAA) has achieved a major operational milestone. It topped the on-time performance (OTP) ranking among Indian metro airports for three consecutive months. This ranking covers the period from September to November, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data.

Punctuality Figures and Ranking

The Chennai airport on-time performance figures were consistently high. It registered 91.6 per cent in September and 91.4 per cent in October. November saw a slightly lower but still leading 86.4 per cent OTP. Before this run, Bengaluru airport held the top spot in July and August. The DGCA began publishing airport-wise OTP figures in its monthly traffic bulletin recently.

Operational Success Factors

Airport officials credit this success to effective resource management. They cite the optimum utilisation of available resources and strong coordination among stakeholders. New technologies, like 2D barcode scanners at entry gates, also help. These scanners make terminal access smoother for passengers. Efforts are also underway to decongest check-in areas.

Another key factor is lower operational pressure. Chennai handles fewer flights compared to major metros like Delhi or Mumbai. On average, around 408 daily flight movements are scheduled in December. This is a six per cent drop year-on-year, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Lower traffic means less pressure on existing airport infrastructure parking bay availability. Furthermore, Chennai sees fewer weather-related delays than northern airports.

The Metro Airport Punctuality Contrast

The ranking considers the OTP of major domestic carriers. These include IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and the Alliance Air Air India group. Industry executives note that IndiGo’s performance is critical. IndiGo operates over 60 per cent of all scheduled flights at Chennai. Therefore, IndiGo’s high on-time performance greatly influences the airport’s overall record.

Conversely, the capacity constrained Mumbai airport consistently ranked last. It was at the bottom of the punctuality ranking for all five months. This is despite handling over 950 aircraft movements daily. To address this, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) commissioned a new parallel taxiway, Taxiway M. Commissioned on December 25, 2025, this upgrade aims to boost airside efficiency operational resilience. It is expected to reduce overall taxi time for aircraft. This should improve arrival and departure flow during peak hours.

As the industry focuses on efficiency, punctuality remains a top metric. High OTP is essential for both airline reputation and passenger satisfaction. Global bodies like IATA stress the importance of operational improvements. This focus on punctuality is a positive sign for Indian commercial aviation news. Future rankings will show the impact of infrastructure upgrades like Mumbai's new taxiway. Aircraft manufacturers like Airbus also benefit from efficient airport operations.