In 2025, the landscape of global aviation has been shaped by numerous challenges, yet several airlines and airports have distinguished themselves through exceptional punctuality. According to a report by aviation analytics firm Cirium, titled “On-Time Performance Review 2025,” many factors, including staffing shortages and unpredictable weather, have complicated the task of maintaining flight schedules. With approximately 38.9 million flights expected to operate internationally this year, the report identifies 12 standout airports and airlines that have achieved remarkable performance, thereby enhancing passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Leading Airports in Punctuality
The report names Istanbul Airport (IST) as the Platinum Winner for 2025, recognizing it as the top airport globally for performance and reliability. Handling over 84 million passengers annually and serving 330 destinations, Istanbul Airport’s operational prowess is underscored by its recent implementation of triple independent runway operations, which increased its capacity from 120 to 148 movements per hour. Cirium reports that the airport demonstrated an on-time performance (OTP) of 80.72%, placing it No. 19 in the large airport category worldwide.
In terms of sheer punctuality, Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Chile excelled as the best large airport, achieving an OTP of 87.04% across 153,326 flights. This airport has recently expanded with the opening of Terminal 2, significantly boosting its passenger capacity. Meanwhile, Tocumen International Airport in Panama was recognized as the best-performing medium-sized airport, with an impressive OTP of 93.34%, while Ecuador’s José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport led the small airport category with a punctuality rate of 91.47%.
Top Airlines Making Strides
On the airline front, Qatar Airways claimed the Platinum Winner title for 2025, achieving an OTP of 84.42% across 198,303 flights. This accolade follows its recognition as the world’s best airline by air transport rating organization Skytrax. Cirium noted that despite facing challenges such as geopolitical airspace constraints and weather-related disruptions, Qatar Airways effectively managed to reroute and reschedule flights, ensuring passengers reached their destinations smoothly.
For the second consecutive year, Aeroméxico topped the on-time performance chart among airlines with an impressive 90.02% punctuality rate across 188,859 flights. In the Asia-Pacific region, Philippine Airlines stood out with an OTP of 83.12%, demonstrating significant reliability despite operational hurdles at its congested home base, Manila Ninoy Aquino International.
In North America, Delta Air Lines emerged as the leading airline, achieving an OTP of 80.9% across more than 1.8 million flights. This recognition comes during a year marked by air traffic control issues and a prolonged government shutdown that challenged U.S. airlines. Iberia Express maintained its status as Europe’s top airline for the third year in a row, securing a punctuality rate of 88.94% despite facing significant operational disruptions.
The dynamic aviation landscape in Latin America is illustrated by Copa Airlines, which reported a punctuality rate of 90.75%. Meanwhile, FlySafair led in the Middle East and Africa with an OTP of 91.06%. Notably, Virgin Atlantic was recognized as the Most Improved Airline, achieving 83.45% punctuality, a significant increase from the previous year’s 74.01%.
Cirium’s comprehensive analysis of airport and airline performance highlights the ongoing efforts and strategies employed by these organizations to enhance operational reliability. As the global aviation industry continues to navigate complex challenges, these benchmarks of performance illustrate the importance of punctuality in fostering customer loyalty and operational success.
