Which Global Airline Achieved 90% On-Time Performance Two Years Running?

Aeromexico has claimed the world’s most on-time global airline title. The Mexican carrier secured the top spot for the second consecutive year. This is according to the newly released Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025. Aeromexico achieved an impressive 90.02% on-time performance rate. This makes it only the second airline to win the consecutive global airline title since 2009.

Operational Excellence and Global Rankings

The annual review measures flights arriving within 14 minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled gate time. Aeromexico operated 188,859 flights across 23 countries to earn the award. The margin between first and third place was only 3.93 percentage points. This reflects rising operational standards across the industry, according to Cirium.

Saudia and SAS followed Aeromexico in the global rankings. Saudia placed second with 86.53% on-time performance. SAS secured third place with an 86.09% on-time rate.

Platinum and Most Improved Awards

Qatar Airways Platinum Award recognizes the Doha-based carrier’s operational excellence. The Platinum Award considers network complexity and passenger impact during disruptions. Qatar Airways achieved 84.42% on-time performance across 198,303 flights. This sets a new benchmark for complex network carriers.

Virgin Atlantic won the inaugural 'Most Improved' award. The UK-based airline showed the largest year-over-year operational gain. Its on-time performance improved by 9.44 percentage points. This new award requires a minimum 70% baseline performance.

Regional and Industry Context

Regional winners also demonstrated strong airline operational excellence. Copa Airlines won the Latin America category for the 11th time. Delta Air Lines secured its fifth consecutive win in North America. Safair topped the Middle East and Africa regional rankings.

Maintaining consistent on-time performance requires sophisticated planning. It also demands quick recovery from operational irregularities. Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, noted these results reflect operational discipline. This discipline defines the top performers in global commercial aviation news.

Industry bodies like IATA stress the importance of efficiency. High punctuality is key for passenger trust and airport slot utilization. Major manufacturers like Airbus also benefit from efficient airline operations. Airlines must manage fleet reliability and maintenance schedules. This ensures high schedule reliability across global networks. For more insights on global aviation analytics, visit our aviation news section.

Key Takeaways for Stakeholders

• Passenger Impact: High on-time rates mean better travel predictability for consumers.
• Airline Efficiency: Punctuality reduces costs related to crew, fuel, and maintenance delays.
• Competitive Edge: Operational excellence is a major differentiator in global airline rankings.
• Future Focus: The introduction of the 'Most Improved' award highlights industry focus on year-over-year gains.