News - American and Southwest Airlines: 2025 On-Time Rankings

In the competitive airline industry, punctuality is a key performance indicator for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. According to 2025 data from Cirium, a renowned aviation analytics firm, Dallas-Fort Worth's hometown airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, found themselves in the middle tier for on-time performance among North American carriers. American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, attained a respectable sixth place with an on-time performance rate of 76.43%. Meanwhile, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines narrowly edged out American, securing the fifth spot with a 77.04% on-time rate. Nevertheless, the crown for punctuality in North America went to Delta Air Lines for the fifth consecutive year, boasting an impressive on-time rate of 80.90%. On a global scale, Aeromexico outperformed its peers with an exceptional on-time performance of 90.02%, setting the benchmark for airlines worldwide. Cirium, which defines an on-time flight as one arriving within 14 minutes and 59 seconds of its scheduled time, underscores the significant role these metrics play in shaping passenger loyalty and trust. Delta's consistent leadership is attributed to its advanced network planning and ability to efficiently manage and recover from operational disruptions. Other notable North American performers include Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines. American Airlines, despite ranking sixth, operates more flights annually than any other carrier in North America, exceeding 2.2 million flights last year, highlighting the challenges of maintaining punctuality at a larger operational scale. Cirium's comprehensive annual report, now in its 17th iteration, evaluates data from a plethora of sources, including airlines, airports, and civil aviation authorities. Their thorough analysis offers insights into industry best practices and benchmarks for airline performance. However, notable absences from the best-performing airports for on-time departures included Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, raising questions about the infrastructure and efficiency of these critical hubs. Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium, emphasized the complexity of maintaining punctuality, which necessitates sophisticated planning and operational synergy. He conveyed that the results not only reflect the airlines' operational discipline but also highlight the competitive nature of maintaining an optimum performance level in air travel.