OAG, the world’s leading provider of travel data and analytics, has released its January on-time performance (OTP) rankings, revealing the significant impact of widespread weather-related disruption on airline operations across global markets.
The latest monthly data highlights a challenging start to the year for airlines, with severe weather events contributing to delays and elevated cancellation rates throughout January. As a result, no major airline worldwide achieved an on-time performance rate above 90% during the month.
China Southern Airlines led all major carriers in January, recording the highest on-time performance globally, with 89.4% of flights arriving on schedule. Despite this strong showing, the airline—like its peers—was not immune to the operational pressures caused by adverse weather conditions.
In North America, Southwest Airlines ranked as the most punctual major carrier, achieving an on-time arrival rate of 79.75%, narrowly ahead of Alaska Airlines, which posted an OTP of 79.31%. Both airlines demonstrated relative resilience during a month marked by winter storms and widespread network disruptions.
January also saw increased cancellation rates, largely driven by weather-related disruptions and broader operational challenges:
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In the United States, Cape Air cancelled 10% of its scheduled flights, primarily due to severe weather conditions.
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In Europe, KLM experienced one of the highest cancellation rates among major carriers, cancelling nearly 14% of flights as a result of a combination of adverse weather and operational constraints.
These elevated cancellation levels further weighed on overall on-time performance results, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of airline schedules to extreme weather events.
OAG’s on-time performance metrics are based on actual gate arrival times. Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time are classified as on time, while those arriving 15 minutes or more after schedule are considered not on time. Cancelled flights are included in the data set and are counted as not on time.
The January results illustrate the operational complexity airlines face during peak winter months and reinforce the importance of resilience, flexibility, and proactive disruption management in maintaining schedule reliability.
