Saudia ranked world’s most punctual airline in May 2026

Saudia has been ranked the world’s most punctual airline for both departures and arrivals in May 2026, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

 

The Saudi Arabian national carrier recorded an on-time departure rate of 92.3% and an on-time arrival rate of 90.12%, operating nearly 14,000 flights across a network of more than 100 destinations. 

 

The results saw Saudia outperform a number of global airlines, including Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Qantas. Cirium defines an on-time flight as one reaching its gate within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival time. 

 

The achievement coincided with the 2026 Hajj season and Eid Al Adha holiday period, one of the airline’s busiest operational periods. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) also ranked among the world’s three most punctual airports, recording a 91.85% on-time departure rate across 19,294 flights.

 

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Saudia attributed the performance to digital operational systems, AI-powered tools and coordination across its network. The airline also credited close coordination between its business units and aviation partners. 

 

Previously, Saudia ranked second globally in Cirium’s annual on-time performance rankings in both 2024 and 2025, reflecting consistent operational results.

 

Currently, the carrier is preparing for its summer seasonal operations, with routes to eight cities running from June to September 2026. Destinations include Salalah in Oman; Antalya and Bodrum in Türkiye; Nice in France; Athens and Mykonos in Greece; El Alamein in Egypt; and Málaga in Spain.

 

For more information, visit saudia.com