MSP is No. 1 among global airports for timely flights, Delta's on-time record best in North America

Whether Minnesota air travelers realize it or not, they are reaping the benefit of punctuality.

Delta Air Lines again has the best on-time performance rating among carriers in North America while Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has more timely departures than all other global airports.

London-based Cirium, a tracker of aviation analytics, released its 2023 report this week, showing Delta's on-time arrival rate last year was 84.72% for more than 1.6 million flights. Atlanta-based Delta, the largest carrier at MSP, has ranked as the timeliest carrier in North America for three consecutive years.

By Cirium's measure, "An on-time flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival."

Only three other airlines — Alaska, American and United — posted numbers above 80%. Air Canada came in 10th on the list with an on-time arrival rate of 63.17%, making 1 out of every 3 flights late.

"When Delta people put us at the top of the industry for on-time performance, they position us to fully deliver the welcoming, elevated and caring service our brand is known for," Delta Chief Operating Officer Mike Spanos said in a news release.

While Delta fared well in topping all its domestic peers, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport outshone major global airports with the best on-time departure rate of 84.44%. MSP narrowly edged Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in India, which saw an on-time departure rate of 84.42%.

Airport on-time performance is defined by a flight departing within 15 minutes of its scheduled departure.

MSP's success is intertwined with the success of Delta, its hub carrier.

Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which owns and operates MSP, called the recognition "a tremendous honor" that "reflects the work of our airline partners" — and congratulated Delta on winning Cirium's top airline award.

In a statement, Ryks commended airport employees. "They work with the FAA's air traffic control team and our airlines to maintain MSP's airfield and support the highest on-time performance rates year-round, despite our well-known winter weather challenges in the northern U.S.," he said.

Minnesota's Sun Country Airlines was not listed in the survey. A Cirium representative said Sun Country is tracked but does not account for at least 15% of the flights in the region, the threshold for being included in the North American rankings.

The report overall sees the airline industry on a "path to recovery." Passenger revenue in the U.S. domestic market was 20% above 2019 levels in the third quarter.

Globally, Delta ranked fourth with Colombia-based Avianca being the most punctual carrier.