Powered by VariFlight incomparable aviation database, the monthly report of Airline On-time Arrival Performance provides an overview of how global airlines are performing in March, 2018.

Global Big Airlines

Qatar Airways tops the big airlines chart in March with an on-time arrival rate of 96.69 percent and an average delay of 4.49 minutes.

Source: VariFlight

Figure 1: World's TOP10 best airlines for on-time arrivals (Big airlines, March, 2018)

Note: Reporting airlines are those whose actual daily arrival flights are over 400.

Global Medium-sized Airlines

Copa Airlines delivers the best on time performance among all medium-sized airlines worldwide with 98.39 percent punctuality and an average delay of 2.31 minutes.

Source: VariFlight

Figure 2: World's TOP10 best airlines for on-time arrivals (Medium-sized airlines, March, 2018)

Note: Reporting airlines are those whose actual daily arrival flights are between 200 to 400.

Asia-Pacific--Major Airlines

Japan Airlines ranks first among all major airlines in Asia-Pacific region with an on-time arrival rate of 96.21 percent. In mainland China, Sichuan Airlines ranks eighth (87.81 percent).

Source: VariFlight

Figure 3: Best airlines in Asia-Pacific for on-time arrivals (Major airlines, March, 2018)

Note: Reporting airlines are those whose actual daily arrival flights are over 400.

Asia-Pacific--Medium-sized Airlines

Singapore Airlines ranks first among medium-sized airlines in the Asia-Pacific region with an on-time departure rate of 96.28 percent. And in mainland China, Juneyao Airlines is recognized at tenth with an on-time performance of 88.74 percent.

Source: VariFlight

Figure 4: Best airlines in Asia-Pacific for on-time arrivals (Medium-sized airlines, March, 2018)

Note: Reporting airlines are those whose actual daily arrival flights are between 200 to 400.

Mainland Chinese Airlines

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the primary government entity that oversees national air transport policy defines airlines based strictly on actual operated flights in 2016 as follows: 

Major Airlines: a major airline is the one whose daily average operated flights is more than or equal to 250.

Reginal Airlines: a regional airline is the one whose daily average operated flights is less than 250.

On-time Arrival Performance of Ten Major Chinese Airlines

Sichuan Airlines, an industry-leading 87.81 percent of on-time arrivals and an average delay of 12.68 minutes, ranks first among ten major Chinese airlines.

Source: VariFlight

Figure 5: Best Chinese major airlines for on-time arrivals (March, 2018)

On-time Arrival Performance of Regional Chinese Airlines

Jiangxi Air ranks first among all regional airlines with an on-time arrival rate of 94.54 percent and an average delay of 6.60 minutes.

Source: VariFlight

Figure 6: Best regional Chinese airlines for on-time arrivals (March, 2018)

Notes for editors

Period: Mar 1- Mar 31 2018

Flights: Commercial air passenger flights only. Cargo aircrafts, corporate jets and general aviation are excluded.

Actual departure flights: Departure flights that have actual take-off time and actual departure time in VariFlight database. Canceled flights are excluded.

Actual arrival flights: Arrival flights that have actual take-off time and actual departure time in VariFlight database. Canceled flights are excluded.

Big Airlines: Airlines with over 400 daily actual arrival flights.

Medium-sized Airlines: Airlines with 200 to 400 daily actual arrival flights.

On-time departure flights: ATD-STD<30mins

On-time arrival flights: ATA-STA<30mins

On-time arrival rate: On-time Arrival Flights/Actual Arrival Flights * 100%

On-time release rate: On-time Departure Flights/ Actual Departure Flights*100%

Average departure delay time: Total Departure Delay Time/ Actual Departure Flights

(Departure delay time of a single flight: ATD-STD. If a flight departs ahead of the scheduled time of departure, then the result is zero.)

Average arrival delay time: Total Arrival Delay Time/ Actual Arrival Flights

(Arrival delay time of a single flight: ATA-STA. If a flight arrives ahead of the schedule time of arrival, then the result is zero.)

Contributed by VariFlight