Garuda Indonesia was ranked as the world’s best airline for on-time performance in 2019, according to aviation data analysis group OAG.
OAG’s definition of on-time performance (OTP) is flights that arrive or depart within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival/departure times. Cancellations are included within the OTP calculations and are counted as late flights.
Garuda Indonesia achieved an average OTP of just over 95 percent in 2019 – in other words, 19 of 20 flights operated to within 15 minutes of schedule. Asia Pacific airlines appear nine times among the top 20 airlines, achieving an average OTP of 86 percent.
Asia Pacific airlines’ OTP performance extends to the low cost carrier (LCC) segment. Five of the top 10 most punctual LCCs are based in the region, including top performer Skymark Airlines (which also came in third overall).
Punctuality is a key part of a customer’s experience with an airline, where it can increasingly be seen as an indication of operational efficiency which translates to satisfied passengers and satisfied shareholders.
John Grant, senior analyst with OAG, commented in a press release on an impressive year for punctuality. “The global market is reaching near peak [on-time performance]. The rise […] is led by mega airlines like Aeroflot, Delta and Air France, which are simultaneously expanding the number of operated flights and maintaining high OTP. We’re seeing success trickle down to the hubs they service, which benefits the entire travel ecosystem.”
This translates to good customer experience planning on the part of airports as well. Six Asian megahubs (over 30 million departing seats per annum) also made it to the top 20 for OTP performance, including Tokyo Haneda Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. OAG’s punctuality report is based on 57.7 million flight records using full-year data from 2019 to create a ranking of the best on-time performance (OTP) for the world’s largest airlines and airports.
