Top 10: The most on-time low-cost airlines of 2024

Cirium’s 2024 on-time performance report is out, and while all eyes are on the winners in the global airlines category, not everyone wants to fly with a full-service carrier.

Flying low-cost airlines might mean no-frills, but an on-time arrival is still an important element of the passenger experience. Low-cost airlines are well-known for running a tight ship when it comes to operations, but who does it best?

From Cirium’s data, the most on-time low-cost airline in the world in 2024 was Europe’s Iberia Express, the low-cost subsidiary of IAG’s Iberia. The airline has performed well in previous years, winning four times before. But there are some surprises in the data, not least that Ryanair (despite all the fanfare) doesn’t feature in the top 10 at all. 

We count down the top 10 on-time low-cost carriers for 2024, with more detail on each.

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10: Thai AirAsia – 77.46%

Fleet Size60Main Aircraft TypesAirbus A320-200Airbus A320neoAirbus A321neoDestinations Served67Hub AirportsBangkok–Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)Krabi International Airport (KBV)Phuket International Airport (HKT)Thai AirAsiaThai AirAsia is a major low-cost airline in Thailand and a joint venture between Malaysian AirAsia and Thailand’s Asia Aviation. Founded in 2003, it operates a fleet of 60 all-Airbus narrowbody aircraft, and is gradually upgrading from the A320ceo to the more efficient neos. 

The airline was recognized in the 2023 Cirium awards as the most efficient airline in Asia-Pacific. For 2024, it was 5th in the region, but claimed 10th in the global rankings for most on-time low-cost airline.

The AirAsia group has been moving towards consolidating its many subsidiaries into a unified airline group. However, Thai AirAsia is not part of the reorganization at present, as it works on its own restructuring after being particularly hard-hit during the pandemic.

9: Southwest Airlines – 77.77%

Fleet Size829Main Aircraft TypesBoeing 737-700Boeing 737-800Boeing 737 MAX 8Destinations Served120+Hub AirportsSouthwest Airlines operates a point-to-point network but major focus cities include:Dallas Love Field (DAL)Denver International Airport (DEN)Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)WikimediaSouthwest Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the US, with a fleet of over 800 aircraft in service. It exclusively flies the Boeing 737 and is gradually replacing older NG aircraft with newer 737 MAXs. It’s keenly waiting on the certification of the 737 MAX 7 in order to continue its fleet refresh.

The carrier has clawed its way back from a disastrous operational meltdown over Christmas 2022 and confrontations with an activist investor in 2024 to claim 9th spot in the world’s most on-time low-cost airlines. Mike Malik, CMO of Cirium, described Southwest’s performance as ‘incredible’, given the challenges it has faced.

The airline has been through something of a transformative 2024, with board shakeups, route changes, and some of the biggest alterations to its policies in its history. For the first time, the airline has launched ‘red-eye’ flights and has shunned open seating. Will these changes make it even more on-time in 2025? We will have to wait and see.

8: Indonesia AirAsia – 78.97%

Fleet Size32Main Aircraft TypesAirbus A320-200Destinations Served33Hub AirportsSoekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK)Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)WikimediaFormed 25 years ago as Air Wagon International (Awair), Indonesia AirAsia launched under its current brand in 2005, and operates a fleet of 32 aircraft. Like its sister airline, Thai AirAsia, the Indonesian airline also exclusively flies the A320 family, although it doesn’t yet have any neo aircraft in its fleet.

CEO of Capital A – the new name for the AirAsia Group – Tony Fernandes said the airline wants to have 100 aircraft in the next five years, but that it needs funding of up to $80 million to achieve this. No aircraft orders have been placed specifically for Indonesia AirAsia, but perhaps we could see something announced in 2025.

The airline is planning growth in 2025, with several new routes earmarked for its expansion. Five aircraft that have been parked in Jakarta for several months will be returned to service to facilitate this growth, according to Veranita Yosephine Sinaga, President Director of Indonesia AirAsia, although the new routes have not yet been disclosed.

7: Norwegian – 79.23%

Fleet Size81Main Aircraft TypesBoeing 737-800Boeing 737 MAX 8Destinations Served100+Hub AirportsOslo Gardermoen (OSL)Copenhagen (CPH)Stockholm Arlanda (ARN)Bergen (BGO)WikimediaBack from the brink, Norwegian put in a great show to claim 7th place in the most on-time low-cost airline of 2024. After the dream of low-cost long-haul ended for the airline, its focus has been on restructuring the business into a profitable entity. Now, it flies short- and medium-haul only, concentrating on intra-European and North African destinations.

2024’s on-time performance of 79% was slightly lower than its 2023 result of 82.7%, but it was operating at a far higher capacity. The acquisition of regional carrier Wideroe has both bolstered and complicated its operations, but with profitable results in the last couple of quarters, the move seems to be paying off for the airline.

Norwegian was keen to continue its growth in 2025 but is concerned its plans will be stalled due to slower-than-expected deliveries from Boeing. During the third quarter’s earnings call, CEO Geir Karlsen said, “We are considering various mitigating actions to overcome the shortage of aircraft, such as lease renewals.” 

6: Allegiant Air – 79.31%

Fleet Size128Main Aircraft TypesAirbus A320 family Boeing 737 MAX 8-200Destinations Served120+Hub AirportsLas Vegas McCarran International (LAS)Orlando Sanford International (SFB)Plus othersTomas del Coro FlickrUS ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air has successfully snagged 6th place in the most on-time low-costs for 2024 with an on-time arrival rate of almost 80%. For most of the year, the airline completed its flying with the Airbus A320 family exclusively, but that changed in late October when its newest aircraft type entered the fleet.

Allegiant shook things up with an order for the 737 MAX in early 2022. The first arrived in September 2024, entering service towards the end of October. So far, Allegiant has taken delivery of four of the type, but has dozens more on order, including for the yet-to-be-certified 737 MAX 7.

The first 737 MAX for Allegiant was also the US’ first 737 MAX 8-200. Based on the MAX 8, this high-density version features slimline seats and an extra emergency exit to give it a higher passenger capacity. Designed for Ryanair, the model has proven popular in the low-cost world, with India’s Akasa Air and Vietnam’s Vietjet also ordering the type.

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5: Vueling Airlines – 81.20%

Fleet Size136Main Aircraft TypesAirbus A320 family (ceo and neo)Destinations Served99Hub AirportsBarcelona El Prat (BCN)Madrid Barajas (MAD)Rome Fiumicino (FCO)WikimediaEuropean low-cost carrier Vueling, part of the IAG Group, broke the 80% barrier in its on-time performance in 2024. It had previously won the award for most on-time airline in Europe in 2021 with performance of over 90%, but as far fewer flights were in the skies that year, it’s hardly a fair comparison.

With 2024 just about back to normal in European aviation terms, Vueling has maintained efficient operations to secure 5th place in Cirium’s list. It returned to London-Heathrow (LHR) for the first time since 2020, with routes to Barcelona and Paris, and has expanded its uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 

Its 136-strong fleet has always been all-Airbus, with everything from the A319 to the A321neo included. Rumors have it that this could change with the arrival of the 737 MAX in IAG’s stable. Originally expected to go to British Airways low-cost subsidiary BA Euroflyer, it is now believed that the MAX will go to Vueling to replace older A320ceos.

4: Peach Aviation – 82.32%

Fleet Size36 Main Aircraft TypesAirbus A320-200Destinations Served37Hub AirportsKansai International Airport (KIX)Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)WikimediaLaunched in 2012, Peach Aviation was originally a joint venture between ANA, Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, and First Eastern Investment Group. However, in late 2024, ANA acquired the remaining 7% stake in Peach to become full owner of the low-cost carrier.

As CMO of Cirium Mike Malik put it, Peach seems to be “taking a leaf out of its parent airline’s books” when it comes to operational excellence. ANA is regularly among the top on-time airlines in Asia-Pacific and missed out on the top spot to Japan Airlines in 2024 by less than half a percentage point.

For Peach, operating 82% of its flights on time is no mean feat, particularly when so many of its routes touch some of the busiest airports in Asia. Its budget-friendly flights are popular with customers, and it continues to add more routes to its network, with one of its most notable additions in 2024 being Osaka to Singapore.

3: Azul Airlines – 82.42%

Fleet Size188Main Aircraft TypesATR 72Airbus A320 familyAirbus A330Embraer E2Embraer ERJDestinations Served163Hub AirportsSão Paulo–Viracopos International Airport (VCP)Belo Horizonte (CNF)Porto Alegre (POA)EmbraerBased in Sao Paulo, Azul is another David Neeleman success story. Founded in 2008, it followed on from his success with Morris Air, JetBlue and WestJet, and is currently the largest airline in Brazil.

Azul struggled during and after the pandemic, and was rumored to be considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2024. However, unlike many of its Latin American counterparts, Azul undertook a thorough restructuring without entering bankruptcy. Part of that restructuring included ceasing Airbus A350 operations, with both of its former aircraft now transferred to THAI.

The airline is now focused on getting more Embraer E195-E2s into its fleet fast. It is eyeing various expansions in 2025, and is striding into the new year in a much more comfortable financial position. 

2: Gol – 84.09%

Fleet Size137Main Aircraft TypesBoeing 737-700Boeing 737-800Boeing 737 MAX 8Destinations Served74Hub AirportsSão Paulo–Congonhas (CGH)Rio de Janeiro–Galeão (GIG)Brasília (BSB)WikimediaGol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, or just Gol for simplicity, is another Brazilian low-cost that is doing exceptionally well in the on-time performance stakes. Securing silver medal position is quite a feat for this carrier, given that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2024.

Gol has been a member of the Abra Group since it was formed in 2022, formally merging Gol with Avianca. With the might of the group behind it, the airline reached a debt-to-equity agreement that should see it exiting Chapter 11 in 2025.

Mike Malik, CMO at Cirium, noted that “Gol didn’t feature very well in the past few years, but since it’s been taken over by Abra and Adrian Neuhauser’s team, it has done exceedingly well … there’s some magic that Adrian weaves on these airlines that makes their performance increase, so watch out for Gol going forward.”

1: Iberia Express – 84.69%

Fleet Size25Main Aircraft TypesAirbus A320 family (A320-200, A321-200)Destinations Served24Hub AirportsMadrid Barajas International Airport (MAD)Iberia ExpressThe number one most on-time low-cost airline in the world for 2024 is the Spanish low-cost Iberia Express. Owned by Iberia and part of IAG, the carrier has been flying for 12 years from its home in Madrid. In 2024, it achieved an on-time performance rate of almost 85%.

Iberia Express has been awarded for its on-time performance numerous times in the past. In both 2022 and 2023, it won most on-time European airline, and took the crown for most on-time low-cost airline every year from 2014 to 2018. 

Iberia Express network mapWinning in the low-cost sector for 2024 is just one of the airline’s accolades, as it also took gold in the rankings for European airlines. Naturally, its parent airline runs a tight ship as well. Iberia was the second-most on-time airline in Europe, and 8th in the world in the global rankings. 

Describing Iberia Express following its win last year, Mike Malik, CMO at Cirium, commented, “What sets Iberia Express apart from other airlines is not only its exceptional punctuality but also its strategic role within Iberia and the International Airlines Group (IAG). As a subsidiary, Iberia Express benefits from Iberia’s strong brand recognition and extensive network, while contributing significantly to the group’s overall performance and profitability. The airline’s success in maintaining high OTP rates is a key factor in bolstering the group’s reputation and reliability among passengers.”The post Top 10: The most on-time low-cost airlines of 2024 appeared first on AeroTime.

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