On Time Performance (OTP) is one of the key operational metrics in the aviation industry, measuring the timeliness and reliability of an airline. The international standard for an “on-time” flight is that it departs or arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled time. Punctuality is a critical target for every airline, having ramifications on its reputation, operational efficiency and ultimately, its profits.
A flight departing late can lead to significant losses for an airline for that particular flight, with the average cost of delays estimated at around $20,000 per flight-hour. Aviation data company OAG has released its latest punctuality report for global airlines, revealing a Top Ten list dominated by carriers from Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Here are the ten most on-time airlines for September 2025 around the world.
10
Azul Airlines – 88.44%
South America, 24,503 total flights and 1.18% cancellations
Brazilian carrier Azul Linhas Aereas was one of just 11 operators to exceed the 88% OTP threshold in September 2025, and was the busiest of all these airlines with over 24,500 flights operated.
The airline’s cancellation rate may be above average among the carriers on this list, but its network complexity is also richer than most. Azul flies to over 150 domestic and international destinations, the majority of which are in Brazil.
Its punctuality in September was a slight dip from the carrier’s leading reliability from the previous month. According to OAG data from August, Azul achieved a 91.26% OTP over that month, making it the fourth-most punctual airline in the world in August and the most timely in Latin America
9
Flair Airlines – 89.13%
North America, 2,226 total flights and 0% cancellations
Canadian carrier Flair Airlines is the highest-ranking North American airline to appear on this list, achieving an 89.13% OTP and 0% cancellation rate in September. Flair was one of two Canadian airlines to log a 0% cancellation rate last month, the other being hybrid carrier Air Transat.
The next most punctual airlines in North America were Hawaiian Airlines (88.11%), Breeze Airways (87.76%) and Delta Air Lines (87.04%), with Canada’s Porter Airlines also making the global Top 20 list with an 86.29% OTP.
Flair has grown into Canada’s third-largest airline and continues to expand its fleet. Serving around 35 destinations, Flair currently operates a fleet of 20 Boeing 737 aircraft but plans to grow to 50 aircraft by 2027.
8
Peach Aviation – 89.33%
North East Asia, 4,979 total flights and 0.04% cancellations
Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation, a subsidiary of All Nippon Airways, recorded an impressive punctuality rate last month, making it the third-most on-time Asian airline behind Fuji Dream Airlines and Philippine Airlines.
|
Aircraft Type |
Total |
Avg. Age |
|---|---|---|
|
Airbus A320-200 |
13 |
7.4 Years |
|
Airbus A320neo |
19 |
3.0 Years |
|
Airbus A321neo |
3 |
3.7 Years |
Operating primarily from Osaka Kansai International Airport, the carrier flies to over 20 destinations across Japan and the region, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, with a fleet of Airbus A320-family narrowbodies.
7
Copa Airlines – 90.63%
Central America, 11,140 total flights and 0.23% cancellations
Copa Airlines kept up its long-standing reputation for reliability, with over 90% of its flights recorded as on-time. This puts the airline in seventh place globally, just one spot below its position in August.
Copa has one of the youngest fleets in the region, consisting of over 100 Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline’s emphasis on fleet simplification is one of the keys behind its punctuality, improving its maintenance and crew scheduling process.
The carrier’s Tocumen International Airport hub in Panama City is one of Latin America’s most efficient hubs, with Copa flying to over 80 destinations.
6
FlySafair – 90.98%
Southern Africa, 5,369 total flights and 0.07% cancellations
South African low-cost airline FlySafair is the only African airline to make the global Top 20, registering a 90.98% on-time rate in September. Alongside its 0.07% cancellation rate, it was an impressive month operationally, given the challenges of the Southern African market and FlySafair’s recovery from a pilot strike in the summer.
Also operating an all-Boeing 737 fleet, FlySafair’s fleet is advanced in years with an average age of over 19 years old. While the majority of its fleet comprises the Boeing 737-800, it also flies four 737-400s, which are between 27 and 36 years old. While not a MAX operator yet, FlySafair has been in discussions with Boeing over inducting the type into its fleet in the next few years.
Flysafair has been flying for over a decade since launching its first revenue flights in October 2014. Its modest network includes around 15 destinations in Southern Africa, most of which are domestic airports.
5
Aeromexico – 91.88%
Central America, 14,366 total flights and 0.03% cancellations
Mexican flag carrier 
Aeromexico oversaw a five percentage point increase in its OTP month-to-month, rising from 86.74% to 91.88% from August to September. This puts it at the top of the table in Latin America, with its performance aided by a very low cancellation rate of 0.03%.
Based at Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Aeromexico has a large but simplified all-Boeing fleet consisting of the 737 and 787 Dreamliner. The majority of its 737s are MAX 8 and MAX 9 planes, which operate alongside the 787-8 and 787-9.
|
Aircraft Type |
Total |
Avg. Age |
|---|---|---|
|
Boeing 737-800 |
34 |
13.1 Years |
|
Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
45 |
4.6 Years |
|
Boeing 737 MAX 9 |
29 |
2.8 Years |
|
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
8 |
11.2 Years |
|
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
14 |
6.9 Years |
Aeromexico has consistently ranked near the top of the OTP table in recent years, including being named the most on-time airline in the world in 2024. Last year, 86.7% of the airline’s approximately 197,000 flights arrived on time, and it fulfilled 99.32% of its schedule.
4
Philippine Airlines – 92.00%
South East Asia, 8,784 total flights and 1.72% cancellations
Having been named the most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region for August, Philippine Airlines continued its on-time streak with 92% of its flights departing or arriving on time in September. Its performance last month was almost three percentage points higher than its August OTP of 89.37% and well above the average of Asian carriers.
PAL’s punctuality is all the more impressive given that its main hub, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), is one of the most congested airports in Asia. It also has a more diverse fleet mix than most airlines on this list, including the Airbus A320, A330, A350, Boeing 777 and De Havilland Dash 8.
The airline maintains a network of around 45 domestic and international destinations. While the majority of its destinations are in Asia, it has long-haul services as far as Canada and the United States.
3
Oman Air – 92.62%
Middle East, 2,974 total flights and 0% cancellations
Oman Air registered a more than seven percentage point improvement in its punctuality in September, jumping from 84.99% in August to 92.62% last month. Along with its 0% cancellation rate, the Muscat-based airline was the third most punctual airline worldwide and second in the Middle East behind Royal Jordanian.
Operating out of its Muscat International Airport (MCT) hub, Oman Air flies to over 40 destinations. Along with an extensive selection of destinations in Asia and the Middle East, Oman Air serves several leading European airports, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Rome Fiumicino.
The Omani carrier is an all-Boeing airline, flying both the 737 and 787 Dreamliner, with its onboard standards offering an enhanced level of service and comfort typical of leading Middle Eastern airlines.
2
Fuji Dream Airlines – 95.18%
North East Asia, 2,640 total flights and 0.49% cancellations
Fuji Dream Airlines jumped from the fifth to the second most punctual airline month-to-month, achieving a more than four percentage point increase from August to September. This also puts the airline on top in Asia and ahead of fellow Japanese carrier Peach Aviation.
Fuji Dream currently operates a domestic-only network to approximately 15 airports in Japan using its all-Embraer fleet. This has aided its efforts to maintain industry-leading punctuality, with the airline also placing second in the world in July.
The Japanese airline commenced operations in 2009 with a single E170 jet. It now has two E170 and 13 E175 aircraft in its fleet, which can accommodate between 74 and 86 passengers in economy.
1
Royal Jordanian – 96.01%
Middle East, 3,336 total flights and 0% cancellations
Royal Jordanian Airlines once again tops the punctuality tables with over 96% of its flights departing or arriving on time, as well as 0% cancellations. This is almost three percentage points higher than its August OTP of 93.24%
The Jordanian carrier maintains an extensive network out of Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which ranks as one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. Flying to over 50 destinations, it maintains a strong presence in Europe and flies as far as Canada and the United States.
Royal Jordanian has a small yet eclectic fleet consisting of Airbus A320 and Embraer E2 jets for its narrowbody operations and seven 787 Dreamliners for its long-haul services. With seven 787-8s in its fleet, Royal Jordanian will soon become an operator of the larger 787-9 model, with its entry slated for early 2026.
