In February 2025, Cirium’s On-Time Performance Report highlighted the exceptional punctuality of several global airlines, with five carriers achieving an on-time performance (OTP) exceeding 90%.
- Global aviation industry saw a decrease in flight cancellations by 18% in February 2025
- FlySafair achieved an on-time performance (OTP) of 95.82%, highlighting its commitment to reliability
- The report highlights the importance of addressing infrastructural and regulatory challenges to improve overall OTP across Africa
Notably, FlySafair, South Africa’s largest airline, emerged as the sole African representative in these rankings, underscoring the continent’s potential in aviation excellence.
Global Leaders in Punctuality
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The airlines that led the global OTP rankings for February 2025 are:
- Safair: 95.82% OTP, with only two cancellations, despite operating in a challenging environment with shortages of air traffic controllers and navigation support at some airports.
- Aeromexico: 92.87% OTP, securing the position as the most punctual airline globally.
- Iberia: 91.25% OTP, demonstrating consistent punctuality.
- Qatar Airways: 87.24% OTP, maintaining a strong performance in the Middle East region.
- British Airways: 86.89% OTP, marking a significant improvement and the first time in an extended period that a UK airline made the ranking.
FlySafair: Africa’s Beacon of Reliability
FlySafair’s remarkable OTP of 95.82%, with only two cancellations, highlights its commitment to reliability. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the operational challenges in the African aviation sector, such as infrastructure limitations and regulatory complexities. FlySafair’s success serves as a testament to what can be accomplished with strategic management and a focus on punctuality. citeturn0search0
Global Context and Operational Challenges
The global aviation industry witnessed a decrease in flight cancellations by 18% in February 2025, with 41,041 flights cancelled compared to 50,110 in January. This improvement in OTP is a positive sign for airlines and airports worldwide. citeturn0search0
However, certain regions faced significant operational challenges. In North America, severe weather conditions impacted airline performance:
- American Airlines: 75.85% OTP, with 4,413 cancellations (2.66% of scheduled flights).
- Air Canada: 55.34% OTP, with 2,348 cancellations (8.36% of scheduled flights).
Implications for African Aviation
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FlySafair’s exemplary performance offers valuable insights for other African carriers. By prioritising punctuality and operational efficiency, airlines can enhance their competitiveness both regionally and globally. This achievement also underscores the importance of addressing infrastructural and regulatory challenges to improve overall OTP across the continent.
In conclusion, the February 2025 On-Time Performance Report not only celebrates the achievements of top-performing airlines but also highlights areas for improvement. For Africa, FlySafair’s success story serves as an inspiration and a benchmark for other carriers aiming to enhance their operational performance.
