African airlines recorded a 72.4% On-Time Performance (OTP) in October – a full 10% off the lead performer, North America, at 82.6%.
AG Schedules Analyser (OAG) reported that the latest data indicates North American airlines’ OTP has improved dramatically from an average of 50.8% in June 2023 to its October recording.
The region’s lower OTP in the summer months can be attributed to severe weather, including storms leading into the busy Fourth of July period, as well as IT and air traffic control problems.
All of this was exacerbated by shortfalls in staffing, according to OAG.
In October 2023, the most punctual airline in North America was Northern Pacific Airways, with 100% of its 1071 flights arriving on time.
Delta Air Lines was the most punctual of the larger (5 000+ scheduled flights per month) airlines with OTP at 90.3%, followed by United Airlines with 85.8%.
For airlines, an on-time flight is defined as arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, with cancellations being classed as not on-time.