In this post, we reveal the top airports that offered the most on-time performance in 2023, according to CIRIUM.
*Note that for a flight to be on time, it must arrive at the gate within 15 minutes and Cirium has divided the airports into three major criteria.
Top 20 Global Airports for On-Time Performance
Among airports worldwide, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport emerged as the frontrunner, achieving an on-time departure rate of 84.44%.
India’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Kempegowda International Airport follow suit, securing the second and third positions with on-time departure rates of 84.42% and 84.08% respectively.
North America, especially the United States boasts the lion’s share with fifteen airports securing spots among the top 20 most punctual airports of 2023.
- North America: 15 Airports
- Asia Pacific: 3 Airports
- Middle East & Africa: 1 Airport
- Europe: 1 Airport
| On-Time Ranking | Airport | On-Time Departure | Total Flights |
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) | 84.44% | 289,817 |
| 2 | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) | 84.42% | 168,426 |
| 3 | Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) | 84.08% | 237,461 |
| 4 | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | 84.01% | 292,486 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 83.99% | 226,705 |
| 6 | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) | 83.09% | 276,049 |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | 82.97% | 399,583 |
| 8 | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | 82.75% | 246,152 |
| 9 | Hamad International Airport (DOH) | 82.04% | 223,952 |
| 10 | Haneda Airport (HND) | 80.51% | 455,001 |
| 11 | Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) | 80.36% | 484,056 |
| 12 | San Diego International Airport (SAN) | 80.32% | 189,479 |
| 13 | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | 80.26% | 212,599 |
| 14 | Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) | 80.08% | 197,307 |
| 15 | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | 79.76% | 503,851 |
| 16 | O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 79.67% | 679,614 |
| 17 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | 79.59% | 386,189 |
| 18 | Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) | 79.42% | 333,349 |
| 19 | Nashville International Airport (BNA) | 79.30% | 203,893 |
| 20 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | 78.89% | 742,965 |
Top 20 Large Airports for On-Time Performance
Cirium has categorized airports by percentile, and a large airport serves between the 75th and 100th percentile by total flights served in a month, with an actual gate departure coverage of 80% or better.
| On-Time Ranking | Airport | On-Time Departure | Total Flights |
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) | 84.44% | 289,817 |
| 2 | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) | 84.42% | 168,426 |
| 3 | Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) | 84.08% | 237,461 |
| 4 | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | 84.01% | 292,486 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 83.99% | 226,705 |
| 6 | Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) | 83.20% | 294,154 |
| 7 | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) | 83.09% | 276,049 |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | 82.97% | 399,583 |
| 9 | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | 82.75% | 246,152 |
| 10 | Hamad Internationa Airport (DOH) | 82.04% | 223,952 |
| 11 | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) | 81.34% | 360,999 |
| 12 | Haneda Airport (HND) | 80,51% | 455,001 |
| 13 | Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) | 80.36% | 484,056 |
| 14 | San Diego International Airport (SAN) | 80.32% | 189,479 |
| 15 | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | 80.26% | 212,599 |
| 16 | Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) | 80.08% | 197,307 |
| 17 | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | 79.76% | 503,851 |
| 18 | O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 79.67% | 679,614 |
| 19 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | 79.59% | 386,189 |
| 20 | Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) | 79.42% | 333,349 |
Top 20 Medium Airports for On-Time Performance
Claiming the top spot among medium airports is Osaka International Airport, with an impressive departure performance of 90.71% on over 135,000 flights throughout the year serving as the principal international hub for Japan’s Kansai region. Tocumen International Airport in Panama also deserves an honorable mention as it achieved an on-time departure of 90.51% on over 125,000 flights, positioning itself as a crucial gateway airport to the Americas.
Additionally, Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru, secured the third position with an OTP of 89.10% on over 155,000 flights, underscoring its significance as a key aviation hub in South America.
A medium airport serves between the 50th and 75th percentile by total flights served in a month. These airports typically serve between 15,000,000 and 25,000,000 travelers annually.
| On-Time Ranking | Airport | On-Time Departure | Total Flights |
| 1 | Osaka International Airport (ITM) | 90.71% | 136,150 |
| 2 | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | 90.51% | 125,731 |
| 3 | Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) | 89.10% | 155,787 |
| 4 | Brasilia International Airport (BSB) | 86.62% | 108,758 |
| 5 | Portland International Airport (PDX) | 86.03% | 142,661 |
| 6 | Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) | 84.98% | 136,163 |
| 7 | Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) | 84.31% | 82,850 |
| 8 | Viracopos Airport (VCP) | 83.93% | 111,180 |
| 9 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport (CCU) | 83.91% | 137,176 |
| 10 | New Chitose Airport (CTS) | 83.80% | 146,013 |
| 11 | Naha Airport (OKA) | 83.68% | 130,043 |
| 12 | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | 83.21% | 110,144 |
| 13 | Fukuoka Airport (FUK) | 82.60% | 178,694 |
| 14 | Sacramento International Airport (SMF) | 82.58% | 111,333 |
| 15 | Chennai International Airport (MAA) | 82.46% | 139,014 |
| 16 | Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) | 81.03% | 118,901 |
| 17 | Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) | 80.67% | 124,284 |
| 18 | Daniel K. Inouve International Airport (HNL) | 80.56% | 158,407 |
| 19 | Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) | 80.29% | 128,623 |
| 20 | Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) | 79.94% | 175,678 |
Top 20 Small Airports for On-Time Performance
In 2023, Mariscal Sucre International Airport stood out for its exceptional operational performance among small airports worldwide. A small airport serves between the 25th and 50th percentile by total flights served in a month, with an actual gate departure coverage of 80% or better.
Situated near Quito, Ecuador, this airport, commonly known as Tababela, is relatively new, having commenced operations in 2012. Despite its recent establishment, it has quickly emerged as Ecuador’s largest airport. Avianca and LATAM, the two major carriers operating from Mariscal Sucre, collectively flew approximately 1 million seats in 2023.
Japan’s Chubu Centrair International Airport and Equador’s Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport rounded off the top three small airports.
| On-Time Ranking | Airport | On-Time Departure | Total Flights |
| 1 | Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) | 90.29% | 41,576 |
| 2 | Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) | 90.17% | 73,159 |
| 3 | Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport (GYE) | 88.83% | 36,077 |
| 4 | Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field) (BOI) | 87.30% | 50,635 |
| 5 | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | 86.71% | 80,267 |
| 6 | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | 85.30% | 69,188 |
| 7 | Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International (REC) | 85.17% | 74,340 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) | 85.06% | 96,064 |
| 9 | Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF) | 84.78% | 94,401 |
| 10 | Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) | 84.76% | 39,186 |
| 11 | John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) | 84,71% | 87,110 |
| 12 | Indianapolis International Airport (IND) | 84.62% | 92,470 |
| 13 | Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB) | 84.58% | 51,822 |
| 14 | Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) | 84.14% | 51,209 |
| 15 | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | 83.88% | 65,896 |
| 16 | Eppley Airfield (OMA) | 83.81% | 46,166 |
| 17 | Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) | 83.59% | 43,411 |
| 18 | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) | 83.58% | 86,335 |
| 19 | General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) | 83.51% | 56,461 |
| 20 | Kansai International Airport (KIX) | 83.39% | 132,748 |
While there might be several factors influencing on-time performance, including weather conditions and operational challenges, the airports mentioned above have consistently delivered on their commitment to punctuality in 2023.
Flight Delay – Know Your Rights
Did you have a delayed or canceled flight? You may be entitled to compensation with SkyCop. Don’t pass up this opportunity!
The European Regulation EC261 rule is an extensive bit of legislation that requires airlines to compensate passengers in the event of:
- Denied boarding
- Flight cancellation
- Long delay of flights (three or more hours)
Under EC261 you may be eligible for compensation reaching up to EUR 600 if your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours or gets canceled.
SkyCop can help you if you have a flight disruption within the EU (on any airline), leaving the EU (on any airline), or arriving in the EU (on an EU airline).
Source: CIRIUM