Flying can be stressful, but a new report from aviation analytics firm Cirium brings wonderfully reassuring news for travelers everywhere. Airlines and airports around the world achieved remarkable on-time performance in 2025, proving that reliability in air travel continues to soar to new heights.

Leading the charge is Aeromexico, which has secured the top global ranking for the second year in a row. The Mexican carrier achieved an outstanding 90.02% punctuality rate across nearly 189,000 flights, meaning nine out of ten flights departed or arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. Even more impressively, the airline maintained close to or above 90% performance every single month of the year.

"Aeromexico's achievement reflects an organisation that has turned operational reliability into a meaningful and enduring strength," Cirium noted in its report. Saudi Arabia's Saudia claimed second place with 86.53% punctuality, while Scandinavian Airlines rounded out the top three with 86.09%.

In Europe, Spanish low-cost carrier Iberia Express celebrated its third consecutive year at the top of the regional rankings, achieving an 88.94% on-time performance across more than 37,000 flights. What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is that the airline maintained this stellar record despite significant challenges, including a major power outage affecting the Iberian Peninsula and software issues impacting its entire fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.

Other regional champions include Philippine Airlines in Asia Pacific with 83.12%, Delta Airlines in North America with 80.90%, Copa Airlines in Latin America with an impressive 90.75%, and FlySafair topping the Middle East and Africa rankings with 91.06%.

The positive news extends to airports as well. Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Chile claimed the top spot among large airports worldwide, despite recently undergoing massive expansion. The airport more than doubled its annual passenger capacity from 16 million to 38 million while actually improving its on-time performance to 87.04%, a 4.2% increase from the previous year.

The Bright Side

These achievements demonstrate that growth and reliability can go hand in hand. Santiago Airport's ability to improve punctuality while doubling capacity shows that smart modernization and operational focus can create better experiences for millions of travelers. Oslo Gardermoen Airport earned the highest European ranking in the large airport category, placing fifth globally with 86% punctuality.

For medium-sized airports, Panama City Tocumen International led the way, while Finland's Helsinki-Vantaa earned top honors among European airports in this category. In the small airport rankings, Ecuador's José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport serving Guayaquil took first place, with Norway's Stavanger claiming an impressive fourth position.

These results reflect thousands of aviation professionals working diligently every day to get passengers to their destinations safely and on time. In an industry facing numerous challenges, from weather disruptions to technical issues, these reliability champions prove that excellence remains achievable through dedication and smart operations.