Flight punctuality has become a key indicator of the quality of air transportation in the world in 2025. Find out which airlines and airports demonstrated the highest On-Time Performance indicators according to the Cirium rating, who became the leader among carriers and which air hubs topped the global rating

Punctuality in aviation remains a key factor determining the level of passenger service and the efficiency of airports and airlines. In 2025, flight schedule execution was subject to numerous challenges - from staff shortages and difficult weather conditions to geopolitical airspace restrictions. It is estimated that about 38.9 million international flights are planned to be operated this year, which underlines the importance of stability and efficiency in aviation.

In its annual report “On-time Performance Review 2025”, the analytical company Cirium recognized the airports and airlines that demonstrated the highest level of punctuality. These leaders not only ensured timely arrival and departure of flights, but also gained additional benefits in the form of passenger satisfaction and cost savings.

We tell about the leaders of the aviation industry in 2025 in this article.

We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with European destinations that are worth visiting for a real travel experience.

Are you planning to move abroad? For legal residence as an expat, you need to apply for a residence permit, and in the future, obtain citizenship. Each country has its own rules and requirements, and it is easy to get confused in the documents and procedures.

The Immigration Guide from Visit World will help you quickly understand all the nuances! You will receive detailed step-by-step instructions, up-to-date information about the authorities, a list of documents, the cost and terms of consideration of applications, as well as life hacks for an easy start in a new country.

All information is sent to your email address in PDF format in a few minutes - no unnecessary worries! Learn more and get your guide today!

The best airports in the world in 2025

Istanbul Airport (IST) - Platinum Winner

The highest Cirium rating was given to Istanbul Airport, which became the Platinum Winner of 2025 for performance and reliability. It is one of the world’s largest hubs, serving over 84 million passengers annually to 330 destinations. In April 2025, Istanbul became the first airport in Europe to have three independent runways, increasing its capacity from 120 to 148 movements per hour.

Cirium highlights that even in challenging conditions, Istanbul Airport has managed to combine scale and complexity with stability and control. Its On-Time Performance (OTP) score was 80.72%, ranking it 19th in the world among major airports.

TTW has published its top 50 countries to travel to in 2026. Find out which destinations are leading in terms of culture, safety and tourist appeal across all continents.

Which other airports became leaders in 2025?

Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (Chile) is the best large airport with an on-time performance of 87.04% on 153,326 flights. In 2022, the opening of the new Terminal 2 more than doubled its capacity.

Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the best medium-sized airport with an on-time performance of 93.34% on 148,065 flights.

In 2026, Mexico will open BON Theme Park, the world’s first luxury theme park with a Cirque du Soleil show, 25 attractions and a luxury hotel. Read here what tourists can expect.

Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) is the best small airport with an on-time performance of 91.47% on 34,068 flights.

For Cirium, large airports are those that serve more than 25 million passengers per year, medium-sized airports are those that serve 15–20 million, and small airports are those that serve 5–15 million.

Read here when to fly to save money and which seats to choose for a comfortable flight.

The World’s Best Airlines in 2025

Qatar Airways – Platinum Winner

Qatar Airways earned the Platinum Winner title, achieving an on-time performance of 84.42% on 198,303 flights, up from 82.83% in 2024. Even in 2025, when air travel was challenged by airspace restrictions, weather volatility and aircraft availability issues, Qatar Airways effectively protected key routes and quickly changed schedules.

Aeroméxico

Aeroméxico was the world’s most punctual airline for the second year in a row, with an OTP of 90.02% on 188,859 flights.

Euromonitor has named the world’s 100 best cities for 2025. Find out who topped the rankings, how global tourism is changing and what the main travel trends are.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines topped the Asia-Pacific ranking with an on-time performance of 83.12% on 116,268 flights, which is particularly impressive given the busy Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines led the North American ranking with an OTP of 80.9% on over 1.8 million flights. Despite air traffic control issues and a 43-day government shutdown, the airline showed resilience and efficiency.

Iberia Express

Iberia Express topped the European ranking for the third consecutive year with an on-time performance of 88.94% on 37,119 flights, overcoming disruptions due to power outages and technical issues with its Airbus A320 fleet.

European countries are introducing new tourist taxes, entrance fees and fines from 2025-2026, more details in this article.

Copa Airlines

Latin America’s leader is Copa Airlines with an OTP of 90.75% on 133,748 flights, demonstrating the dynamic development of the region’s aviation market.

FlySafair

In the Middle East and Africa, FlySafair became the leader, achieving an OTP of 91.06% on 62,805 flights.

Virgin Atlantic

The airline that improved the most in 2025 was Virgin Atlantic, raising its punctuality to 83.45% from 74.01% in 2023.

Learn more about the allocation of seats on the plane by letter at the link.

Punctuality remains an important component of the efficient operation of the aviation industry. The 2025 leaders showed that even in difficult conditions, high standards of service and flight stability are possible thanks to professionalism and well-established processes.

Travel and relocation become easier if you know all the nuances of legal stay in the country. International flights, punctuality of airports and airlines are just the first step. The next step is to correctly apply for a residence permit or citizenship.

The immigration guide from Visit World will help you:

- Understand the procedure for obtaining a temporary or permanent permit;

- Prepare all the necessary documents;

- Learn about the terms, costs and requirements of the country;

- Get life hacks for a comfortable stay abroad.

All information is sent to your email address in PDF in a few minutes - plan your trip and immigration without unnecessary worries! Get the guide and be ready to travel to any country in the world!

Let us remind you! Tourists from all over the world named the countries with the strictest control at airports. We have already told you where you will have to spend more time on checks and what you should prepare for.

Photo – Pixabay.com

---