The aviation landscape in 2025 showcases a competitive spirit among airlines and airports striving for punctuality. With an estimated 38.9 million flights expected to take place internationally this year, various factors such as staffing challenges and unpredictable weather continue to complicate on-time operations. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the structural constraints affecting the industry have transformed into a persistent challenge rather than temporary disruptions. Their report, titled “On-Time Performance Review 2025,” identifies twelve standout airports and airlines that excelled in punctuality, leading to enhanced passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Punctuality Leaders: Airports and Airlines
Istanbul Airport (IST) has been recognized as the Platinum Winner airport for 2025, demonstrating exceptional performance and reliability. This major Turkish hub, which services over 84 million passengers annually across 330 destinations, has implemented innovative operational strategies. In April 2025, it became the first airport in Europe to adopt triple independent runway operations, increasing its capacity from 120 to 148 movements per hour. Despite its complexity, Cirium reports that Istanbul Airport achieved an on-time performance (OTP) rate of 80.72%, ranking it No. 19 among large airports globally.
In terms of OTP alone, Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Chile emerged as the best-performing large airport, maintaining an impressive punctuality rate of 87.04% over 153,326 flights. This success followed the inauguration of its new Terminal 2, which more than doubled its passenger capacity. Moreover, Tocumen International Airport in Panama City claimed the title for the best medium-sized airport with a punctuality rate of 93.34%, while Ecuador’s José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport led the small airport category with 91.47% punctuality across 34,068 flights.
Awards for Airlines: Performance and Reliability
In the airline category, Qatar Airways was awarded the title of Platinum Winner airline, building on its recognition as the world’s best airline by Skytrax. With an OTP of 84.42% over 198,303 flights, the airline effectively navigated disruptions caused by geopolitical issues and adverse weather conditions. Cirium highlighted Qatar’s ability to protect key connection flows and adapt its operations during irregular situations.
For the second consecutive year, Aeroméxico, the flag carrier of Mexico, led the world in on-time performance with an impressive rate of 90.02% across 188,859 flights. In the Asia Pacific region, Philippine Airlines achieved a commendable 83.12% punctuality, particularly noteworthy given the congestion challenges at its base, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
In North America, Delta Air Lines emerged as the top airline, achieving 80.9% punctuality despite facing significant obstacles, including air traffic control system issues and a government shutdown that lasted 43 days. Cirium commended Delta for its resilience during these challenging times.
Meanwhile, Iberia Express maintained its title as Europe’s leading airline for the third consecutive year, achieving a punctuality rate of 88.94% despite facing challenges such as a power outage affecting flights across the Iberian Peninsula. In Latin America, Copa Airlines stood out with a punctuality rate of 90.75% across 133,748 flights, underscoring the region’s growing importance in global aviation, as projected by Airports Council International.
In the Middle East and Africa, FlySafair achieved a remarkable 91.06% punctuality across 62,805 flights, while Virgin Atlantic was recognized as the Most Improved Airline in 2025, with a significant increase to 83.45% punctuality from 74.01% in 2023.
As the aviation industry continues to adapt to evolving challenges, the achievements of these airlines and airports highlight the importance of operational efficiency and punctuality in enhancing passenger experience.
