The most punctual airlines in the world, which one stands out in Latin America and the situation in Argentina that surprised the last day of the year

What does punctuality mean in the airline industry? For airlines, an on-time flight is defined as one that lands within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time to the boarding gate.

Airports also measure punctuality based on the same time, taking as reference the flights departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.

Taking as arrival times and other items such as the punctuality of departures, the blocking time or the completion factor, the Ciri’s advisers – like every year – analyzed the punctuality performance of airlines and airports during 2024. And announced the winners.

The result became a very good news for Latin Americagiven that AeromexicoMexico’s flag airline, took the title of Most Punctual Global Airline in 2024. Its punctuality rate was 86.70%.

Second place went to Saudi (Saudi Arabia’s national airline), with 86.35% punctuality, while in third place was Delta Air Linesbased in Atlanta, United States, with 83.46%.

The recognition given annually also has regional awards.

• In Europathe most punctual was the low cost Iberia Express, also recognized as the most punctual low cost airline worldwide.

• In Asia-Pacificfirst place went to Japan Airlines, with All Nippon Airways hot on its heels, both Japanese airlines.

• In North Americadominated Delta Air Lines

• In Latin America The recognition – tenth victory – went to Copa Airlines. In this regional ranking, Aerolíneas Argentinas appears in fifth placer.

• In Middle East and Africafirst place went to FlySafair, low-cost airlines based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Within the airports, the Most punctual “Global Airport” title it was for him Riyadh King Khalid International Airportcapital of Saudi Arabia, in the “large airports” category.

Within the “medium-sized airports”, the one with the greatest punctuality was for Panama Tocumen International Airport -Copa Airlines’ base of operations-, known as the Hub of the Americas.

In the case of “small airports, the first place went to the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport of Guayaquilin Ecuador.

In Argentina, from mid-2024, the Adventure consultants measures the punctuality of all scheduled airlines operating in the country.

According to its statistics – which it prepares based on public data from Aeropuertos Argentina – from October to mid-December, punctuality fell from 80.4% to 78% (-2.4%). At the same time, delayed flights increased from 13.99% to 19.50% (+5.5%).

In contrast, the last day of 2024 showed very good results: closed with a punctuality of 88.11% in arrivals at national airports and a regularity (non-cancelled flights) of 97.96%.

“Los End-of-year data shows notable improvement in reducing cancellations and with it increased punctuality. In the quarter from September to November, the Argentine passenger lost predictability when purchasing your tickets,” explains Diego Benítez, lawyer specialized in Tourism Law, partner at Adventus and consultant at UN Tourism.

The specialist lists: “The possible closure of Aerolíneas Argentinas and its untimely stoppages, the very high number of cancellations by Flybondi, the long waits for checked luggage and the changes in JetSmart schedules, generated many uncertainties, making it one of the most complex years for agencies and passengers”.

Benítez highlights that December ended without union conflicts that affected the passenger and the plan Flybondi in front of ANAC to reduce cancellations only gave results in the last days of the month, “which Let’s hope it improves in the high months like January and February“.

Organizing a trip takes time, money and a lot of enthusiasm. In that context, “a cancellation It is one of the worst news that a passenger can receive when flying. And if that cancellation does not guarantee a seat on the next flight, the vulnerability is greater,” says Benítez.

That’s where studies and punctuality reports come into play: when buying an air ticket one can evaluate not only the rate, but also the compliance with schedulessomething that would allow “mitigating the risk of unforeseen events.”

On the other hand, Benítez insists on the need to reinforce the new passenger rights which came into effect on October 9, 2024 with decree 809/2024 (which applies to international and local companies operating in national airports):

• have assistance (never for issues related to the weather) such as meals and soft drinks against delays of more than 4 hours (lesser if the flight is between 00:00 and 06:00)

• accommodation when the delay is more than 8 hours.