Rankings of the “On Time Performance” (OTP) of an airline (as calculated by OAG) have “a minimum size criteria of 1500 flights operated in the current month and a coverage qualification.” According to the publication, “an airline departure or arrival occurring within 15 minutes of the scheduled time is considered on-time.”
But which are the most punctual airlines for December 2024 based on this calculation? Let’s find out.
10. Japan Transocean Air
Image:BWard | Wikimedia Commons
Japan Transocean Air (NU) rounds out the top ten with an OTP rate of 88.6%. Operating in Northeast Asia, it recorded a total of 2,072 flights with a cancellation rate of 0.29%
Image: Aeroprints.com | Wikimedia Commons
Japan Transocean Air, a division of Japan Airlines, focuses on domestic travel, especially linking Okinawa with the rest of the nation. The airline, which mostly serves domestic passengers, is renowned for its efficient and on-time service.
Image:Richard Vandervord | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft Type | Total number of aircraft | Average age* |
| Boeing 737 | 14 | 7.9 years |
*Data from planespotters.net. All the data of the aircraft type, the total number of aircraft and average age in this article comes from planespotters.net.
9.Fuji Dream Airlines
Image:Flickr | Wikimedia Commons
With an OTP rate of 89.09%, Fuji Dream Airlines (JH), which serves Northeast Asia, takes ninth place. It had a cancellation rate of 0.31% and it managed 2,230 flights in total.
Image: Chihaya Sta | Wikimedia Commons
The fleet of the airline consists of merely one aircraft type.
Image: Masakatsu Ukon | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft Type | Total number of aircraft | Average age |
| Embraer ERJ-170 | 14 | 10.3 Years |
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8.Star Flyer
Image: Flickr | wikimedia Commons
Star Flyer is the eighth-most punctual regional airline in Japan, with an OTP rate of 89.75%. It has demonstrated exceptional dependability by maintaining an exceptional 0% cancellation rate while managing 1,947 flights.
Image: Yamaguchi Yoshiaki | Wikimedia Commons
Star Flyer prioritizes making travel comfortable and is well-known for its elegant black aircraft and first-rate service.
| Aircraft Type | Total Number of aircraft | Average age |
| Airbus A320 | 11 | 8.2years |
7.Saudi Arabian Airlines
Image: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon | Wikimedia Commons
With an OTP rate of 89.78%, Saudi Arabian Airlines takes eighth place, demonstrating its effectiveness in the Middle Eastern aviation industry.
Saudi Arabian Airlines – Boeing 777-FFG
Image: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft Type | Total Number of aircraft | Average age |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 35 | 10.4 years |
Image: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon | Wikimedia Commons
The airline has a low cancellation rate of 0.07% despite operating 16,964 flights. Being the national airline of Saudi Arabia, it is renowned for its first-rate service, wide-ranging international network, and crucial role in the transportation of religious pilgrims.
6. Copa Airlines
Image:Dailymemers | Wikimedia Commons
Copa carriers is among the most punctual carriers in Latin America, ranking sixth with an OTP rate of 90.08%. It guarantees seamless travel experiences by operating 10,780 flights with a cancellation rate of only 0.11%.
Image:Aeroprints.com | Wikimedia Commons
Copa Airlines has a solid reputation for dependability and provides easy connections across North, Central, and South America through its Panama City base.
Image:r PanamaAir2012 | wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft Type | Total Number of aircraft | Average age |
| Boeing 737 | 102 | 9.8 years |
5. Xiamen Airlines Company
Image:Mitchul Hope | Wikimedia Commons
With an impressive OTP rate of 90.65%, Xiamen Airlines takes fifth place, demonstrating its methodical operations in North East Asia. One of the most reliable airlines in China, it managed 19,611 flights and had a low cancellation rate of 0.04%.
Image: Steven Agre | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft type | Total number of aircraft | Average age |
| Airbus A321 | 17 | 1.4 |
| Boeing 737 | 144 | 10.5 |
| Boeing 77 Dreamliner | 12 | 8.8 |
Image: Aeroprints.com | Wikimedia Commons
The carrier is renowned for its outstanding service and effective internal and international connections as a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines.
4.Safair
Image: Alan Lebeda | Wikimedia Commons
Fourth place goes to Safair, a top low-cost airline in Southern Africa, with an OTP rate of 90.69%. Its great dependability for travelers on a tight budget is demonstrated by the 5,651 flights it has performed with just 0.14% cancellations.
Image: Bob Adams | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft Type | Total Number of aircraft | Average age |
| Boeing 737-300 | 2 | 34.5 years |
Image: Safair | Wikimedia Commons
3.Royal Jordanian
Image:Davidi Vardi | Wikimedia Commons
With an OTP rate of 91.38%, Royal Jordanian comes in third, demonstrating its commitment to prompt operations in the Middle East. The airline had 2,664 flights with a small cancellation rate of 0.08%.
Image: J. S. (Steve) Bond | Wikimedia Commons
With its center in Amman, it serves as Jordan’s flag carrier and is essential in linking the Middle East with Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Image:Ank Kumar | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft type | Total number of aircraft | Average age |
| Airbus A320 | 11 | 10.6 |
| Boeing A321 | 3 | 13.7 |
| Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 7 | 9.7 |
| Embraer E2 | 6 | 1.7 |
| Embraer ERJ-170 | 2 | 16.7 |
| Embraer ERJ-190 | 1 | 17.4 |
2.Oman Air
Image: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt | Wikimedia Commona
With a solid OTP rate of 91.61%, Oman Air takes second place.
Image: Kiefer | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft type | Total number of aircraft | Average age |
| Airbus A330 | 7 | 12.8 |
| Boeing 737 | 37 | 7.5 |
| Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 10 | 7 |
Image: Aeroprints.com | Wikimedia Commons
1.Hainan Airlines
Image: Riik@mctr | Wikimedia Commons
Hainan Airlines, with an on-time performance (OTP) of 92.03%. is the most punctual airline in the world. It has a low cancellation rate of only 0.33% despite operating a significant number of flights—22,637 overall.
Image: Ziongarage | Wikimedia Commons
| Aircraft type | Total number of aircraft | Average age |
| Airbus A320 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Airbus A330 | 27 | 10.3 |
| Boeing 737 | 151 | 10.5 |
| Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 38 | 8.3 |