SIA’s Consistent Performance Recognised, Despite a Dip in Overall Airline Punctuality

In 2024, Singapore Airlines (SIA) secured the third spot in the Asia-Pacific region for on-time performance, trailing behind Japanese carriers Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). SIA’s on-time rate reached 78.67%, slightly improving from 78.57% in 2023, when it ranked seventh in the region, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Japan Airlines led the rankings with an on-time score of 80.9%, while ANA followed closely with 80.62%. The two carriers had also topped the region’s charts in 2023. Cirium noted that while the overall on-time performance across the region saw a modest drop of 1% in 2024, the positions of the top performers remained largely unchanged.

Despite a reduction in performance across many airlines, SIA’s consistency helped it rise in the rankings. The airline also posted a notably low flight cancellation rate of 0.08%, significantly better than the industry average of 1% or more.

The 2024 performance of other airlines such as Thai AirAsia, IndiGo, and Garuda Indonesia, along with low-cost carriers and other flag carriers, outpaced SIA in the previous year. Nonetheless, an SIA spokesperson reaffirmed the airline’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and customer experience.

Jetstar Asia, a Singapore-based budget carrier, registered an on-time score of 72.18%, while Scoot, SIA’s subsidiary, did not have its on-time performance reported due to insufficient data.

Globally, the top three most punctual airlines were Aeromexico, Saudia, and Delta Air Lines. Despite these achievements, no Singaporean carriers made the global top ten rankings.

As for the most punctual airports, King Khalid International in Riyadh claimed the top global position with 86.65%, while Changi Airport in Singapore scored 74.95% but did not make the global top 10.

Cirium’s analysis for 2024 was based on a comprehensive dataset including 35 million flights tracked worldwide, sourced from 600 data points including global air traffic controls and satellite tracking. Additionally, Cirium introduced new awards for the year, with Delta Air Lines and El Dorado International Airport in Colombia being recognised for their outstanding operational performance.