Delta Air Lines Ranked No. 1 in Flight Punctuality in 2024

Delta Air Lines has been ranked No. 1 in flight punctuality in 2024, capping off what appeared to be a great year for the airline.

A press release announced that airlines that manage intricate operations and provide exceptional on-time performance while minimizing the cost of disturbance to their customers are honored with Cirium’s Platinum Award. As the airline begins its Centennial year, the accolade highlights its reputation for and dedication to dependability.

“It’s an honor to have Cirium once again recognize the hard work and operational excellence of Delta people,” said John Laughter, Delta Air Lines’s EVP and chief of operations, in a statement accompanying the press release. “Safe, consistent operational excellence is the bedrock of Delta’s growth and the core promise of our 100-year brand.”

Cirium data shows that Delta’s 2024 on-time record surpassed its closest North American competitor by 2.53% as well as both the North American and international industry benchmarks of 76.37% and 83.04%, respectively. Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled gate arrival are considered on-time, according to Cirium. According to Delta, 83.46% of its 1,712,529 flights arrived on time in 2024.

Delta Air Lines Shines Where JetBlue Fails

While Delta Air Lines is receiving industry accolades for its consistent performance of on-time flights, JetBlue is being fined $2 million by the Department of Transportation for its chronic lateness.

“Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers. Today’s action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement included in the DOT’s announcement of the fine. “The department will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling practices in order to protect healthy competition and ensure passengers are treated fairly.”

According to the DOT’s investigation, JetBlue operated four flights with chronic delays at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. Every flight had ongoing delays for at least five months in a row. Even after the DOT alerted JetBlue to the ongoing delays on its flight between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, the airline still operated three more chronically delayed flights between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and JFK, as well as between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.