Delta and Alaska Rank Top for US Flight Punctuality

Aviation analytics firm Cirium has released its comprehensive on-time performance report for 2025, detailing the most reliable airlines for travelers. In the United States, Delta Air Lines emerged as the leader with an on-time arrival rate of 80.9%, marking it as the top choice for punctuality domestically. Alaska Airlines secured the second position with a 79.2% rate, effectively knocking United Airlines down to fourth place following operational challenges at its Newark hub.

Perhaps the most surprising result was the performance of Spirit Airlines. Despite re-entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August and navigating a turbulent financial year, the budget carrier jumped three spots to claim third place in the US with a 78.8% on-time rate. Globally, Aeromexico retained its title as the world's most on-time global carrier, achieving a remarkable 90.0% rate. The report also noted that US carriers broadly faced heightened operational pressure due to sustained air traffic controller shortages and a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in US history.

The annual report highlights a competitive landscape for on-time arrivals within the United States. Delta Air Lines maintained its position at the top, handling just over 1.8 million flights in 2025. Although its on-time performance rate of 80.9% represented a slight decrease of approximately 2.5% from 2024, it remained well above the industry benchmark of 80%, which aviation data company OAG considers "pretty good."

Alaska Airlines secured the second spot with a 79.2% on-time rate. The airline operated approximately 453,000 flights last year. This ranking shift was largely influenced by difficulties faced by competitors; United Airlines dropped from second to fourth place due to significant air traffic control issues at its Newark, New Jersey, hub during the summer.

The most unexpected podium finisher was Spirit Airlines. The leisure-focused carrier improved its standing to third place with a 78.8% on-time rate. This operational improvement followed a strategic decision to exit several airports and sell dozens of planes to simplify its network and bolster cash flow. Mike Malik, Cirium's chief marketing officer, noted that the airline had focused heavily on stabilizing its operation over the past 14 months.

The complete top eight US airlines for 2025 are:

1. Delta Air Lines: 80.1%
2. Alaska Airlines: 79.2%
3. Spirit Airlines: 78.8%
4. United Airlines: 78.8%
5. Southwest Airlines: 77.0%
6. American Airlines: 76.4%
7. JetBlue Airways: 74.7%
8. Frontier Airlines: 72.1%

While US carriers focused on domestic stability, Aeromexico dominated the global stage. The Mexican carrier achieved an on-time arrival rate of 90.0%, securing the title of the most on-time global airline for the second consecutive year. This performance places Aeromexico in the elite category of carriers exceeding 90% punctuality, a threshold considered exceptionally high by industry standards.

Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) took second place globally with an 86.5% rate, while Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) came in third at 86.1%. This marks the second consecutive year that both Aeromexico and Saudia have earned the gold and silver medals for global punctuality. Qatar Airways, operating out of its sprawling Doha hub, won Cirium's "Platinum Award for Operational Excellence," which evaluates airlines on punctuality, network efficiency, operational scale, and recovery from disruptions.

It is worth noting that three regional carriers—Safair (South Africa), Royal Jordanian, and Copa Airlines (Panama)—actually outperformed Aeromexico with rates of 91.1%, 90.7%, and 90.8% respectively. However, Cirium classifies these as regional rather than global airlines due to their fewer flights and less complex international networks.

The top 10 most on-time global airlines for 2025 included:

• Aeromexico: 90.0%
• Saudia: 86.5%
• Scandinavian Airlines: 86.1%
• Azul Airlines: 85.2%
• Qatar Airways: 84.4%
• Iberia: 83.5%
• Latam Airlines: 82.4%
• Avianca: 81.7%
• Turkish Airlines: 81.4%
• Delta Air Lines: 80.9%

The report suggests that the world's most punctual airlines often share structural and geographic advantages. Top carriers frequently benefit from large, well-organized hubs, simpler networks, or hubs located in regions with fewer weather-related disruptions. For example, Copa Airlines anchors its network in Panama City, while Aeromexico utilizes Mexico City.

Conversely, US carriers face complex logistical hurdles. Delta, United, and American each operate at least eight major hubs across widely different climates. These range from wildfires in California and hurricanes in Florida to winter storms in the Northeast and heat in Texas. This geographic diversity makes recovery from disruptions far more complex than for carriers operating in more stable environments.

Mike Malik of Cirium emphasized the importance of the schedule as the core product. "The airline product is the schedule," Malik stated. "I keep emphasizing that. And when an airline understands that the schedule is what they're selling, they focus on that; they just become a better operation."

Additionally, Virgin Atlantic was named the "most improved" airline globally, jumping 9.44 percentage points from 74.0% in 2024 to 83.5% in 2025.