World’s Most Punctual Airlines August 2025, Surprising Leaders in Global On-Time Rankings

For travelers on-time performance is more than a statistic—it can determine whether a trip is smooth or disrupted. Airlines that consistently arrive on schedule not only save passengers valuable time but also reduce stress and strengthen trust in their service.

The OAG global on-time performance (OTP) rankings are a monthly benchmark for reliability, measuring which airlines deliver on punctuality across continents. In August 2025, the rankings highlighted carriers from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America, giving a complete picture of global aviation discipline.

How OTP is Measured

On-time performance is calculated using actual gate arrival times. A flight is considered “on time” if it lands within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival.

• Delays beyond 15 minutes count against the OTP score.
• Cancellations are also factored in and marked as “not on time.”

This method ensures that rankings reflect both punctuality and operational reliability, offering passengers a realistic understanding of an airline’s performance.

Middle East Leaders – Royal Jordanian Tops the World

In August 2025, Royal Jordanian (RJ) achieved the highest OTP worldwide with a remarkable 93.24% on-time score. Out of 4,034 flights, only 0.12% were canceled, setting a global benchmark.

Other regional performers included:

• Oman Air (WY) – OTP 84.99%, with one of the lowest cancellation rates at just 0.05%.
• Qatar Airways (QR) – OTP 84.76%, operating 17,638 flights with high reliability.

Middle East OTP Rankings

Airline	OTP	Cancellation Rate	Total Flights
Royal Jordanian (RJ)	93.24%	0.12%	4,034
Oman Air (WY)	84.99%	0.05%	3,856
Qatar Airways (QR)	84.76%	0.09%	17,638

Asia – Philippine Airlines and IndiGo Shine

Asia emerged as the most diverse region in the rankings. Philippine Airlines (PR) secured the second spot globally with 92.97% OTP, operating nearly 10,000 flights with less than 1% cancellations.

Other strong performers included:

• Fuji Dream Airlines (JH) – OTP 90.97%, reflecting Japan’s reputation for punctuality.
• Japan Transocean Air (NU) – OTP 83.34%, with zero cancellations.
• IndiGo (6E) – OTP 87.22% across an incredible 62,671 flights, with zero cancellations, proving consistency at scale.

Asia OTP Rankings

Airline	OTP	Cancellation Rate	Total Flights
Philippine Airlines (PR)	92.97%	0.70%	9,685
Fuji Dream Airlines (JH)	90.97%	0.63%	2,860
IndiGo (6E)	87.22%	0.00%	62,671
Japan Transocean Air (NU)	83.34%	0.00%	2,174

Latin America – Azul and Copa Lead the Region

Brazil’s Azul Airlines (AD) ranked fourth globally with 91.26% OTP across more than 25,000 flights, keeping cancellations at just over 1%.

Other top performers in the region:

• Copa Airlines (CM) – 90.82% OTP, known for its reliability at Panama City hub.
• Aeromexico (AM) – 86.74% OTP.
• LATAM Airlines (LA) – 83.82% OTP across 50,207 flights.
• Avianca (AV) – 82.95% OTP.

Latin America OTP Rankings

Airline	OTP	Cancellation Rate	Total Flights
Azul Airlines (AD)	91.26%	1.05%	25,254
Copa Airlines (CM)	90.82%	0.15%	11,585
Aeromexico (AM)	86.74%	1.22%	16,144
LATAM Airlines (LA)	83.82%	1.07%	50,207
Avianca (AV)	82.95%	0.92%	22,875

Africa – FlySafair Sets Records

South Africa’s FlySafair (FA) ranked third globally with 91.86% OTP and achieved a rare feat of zero cancellations across 5,231 flights.

This performance is especially notable given challenges in regional infrastructure and weather, highlighting the airline’s operational excellence.

African OTP Rankings

Airline	OTP	Cancellation Rate	Total Flights
FlySafair (FA)	91.86%	0.00%	5,231

Europe – SAS and Virgin Atlantic Lead

Europe saw strong showings from both traditional and hybrid carriers.

• SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) – OTP 87.56% across 22,216 flights.
• Virgin Atlantic (VS) – OTP 86.05%, impressive for long-haul routes.
• Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) – OTP 83.58%.
• Utair Aviation (UT) – OTP 84.36%.

Europe OTP Rankings

Airline	OTP	Cancellation Rate	Total Flights
SAS Scandinavian (SK)	87.56%	0.57%	22,216
Virgin Atlantic (VS)	86.05%	0.55%	2,354
Utair Aviation (UT)	84.36%	0.61%	5,094
Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY)	83.58%	0.22%	7,757

North America – Hawaiian and Delta Represent

Four North American carriers made the global Top 20.

• Hawaiian Airlines (HA) – OTP 85.77%, leading the region.
• Delta Air Lines (DL) – OTP 83.18% across an astounding 158,387 flights.
• Cape Air (9K) – OTP 82.57%, though with a higher cancellation rate.

North America OTP Rankings

Airline	OTP	Cancellation Rate	Total Flights
Hawaiian Airlines (HA)	85.77%	0.27%	7,330
Delta Air Lines (DL)	83.18%	0.71%	158,387
Cape Air (9K)	82.57%	3.56%	9,503

Global Top 20 – August 2025 Rankings

Top 3 Worldwide:

1. Royal Jordanian – OTP 93.24%
2. Philippine Airlines – OTP 92.97%
3. FlySafair – OTP 91.86%

Other Notables: IndiGo (India) ranked 8th, Delta Air Lines 18th, and Virgin Atlantic 10th.

The results demonstrate that punctuality is not confined to one region or type of airline. Both regional carriers and large global operators achieved standout performances.

Bottom Line

The August 2025 OTP rankings show how airlines across the world are adapting to rising passenger demand while keeping reliability at the forefront. For travelers, these results are a powerful tool in choosing carriers that value time and efficiency.

FAQs – Most Punctual Airlines August 2025

Q1: Which airline was the most punctual in August 2025?
Royal Jordanian topped the global list with a 93.24% OTP score.

Q2: Which Asian airline ranked highest?
Philippine Airlines ranked second globally with 92.97% OTP.

Q3: Did any airline record zero cancellations?
Yes, FlySafair (Africa) and IndiGo (India) recorded zero cancellations in August 2025.

Q4: Which airline had the highest volume of flights but still ranked in the top 20?
IndiGo, with 62,671 flights, managed 87.22% OTP and zero cancellations.

Q5: Which North American carrier ranked best?
Hawaiian Airlines led North America with 85.77% OTP.