Delta and Minneapolis Among 2023’s Most Punctual Airlines and Airports

Joe Cortez January 02, 2024

Flyers in the U.S. connecting on Delta Air Lines through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were more likely to get to their destination on time, according to a new study by Cirium.

If you traveled through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) aboard Delta Air Lines, you probably got to your destination on time in 2023 without any issues.

This was one of the key findings of Cirium’s 2023 On-Time Performance Review, released on January 2, 2024.

Avianca, Azul, and Delta Among Top Performing Airlines

Among all international carriers, Avianca Airlines was the most punctual of 2023. Operating only 213,039 flights last year, the carrier had an 85.73% on-time arrival rate. Azul Airlines and Qatar Airlines rounded out the top three, as both airlines had an on-time rate above 85%.

Delta was the only U.S.-based carrier in the global top five and the winner of the Cirium Platinum Award for the third straight year. Not only was the Atlanta-based carrier the most punctual North American carrier, Delta also ranked fourth globally. The airline had an 84.72% on-time rate operating over 1.6 million flights.

In North America alone, Alaska Airlines was the second most on-time airline in the United States, while operating significantly less flights than the legacy airlines. Alaska had an on-time arrival rate of 82.25% with only 404,925 flights. American Airlines came in third place with an 80.61% on-time arrival rate, followed by United Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Two American airports were ranked in the top five on-time terminals in the world. Topping the list is Delta hub Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), with an on-time departure rate of 84.44%. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) was fifth on the list, with an 83.99% on-time departure rate. In the middle were Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD), Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR), and Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG).

“Airline and airport winners steered through the year’s operational hurdles with exceptional performance,” Jeremy Bowen, chief executive of Cirium, said in a press release. “Their relentless pursuit of efficiency and punctuality is commendable as we venture into 2024, a year brimming with promise for the aviation sector.”