Colombian Airline Avianca Tops Global Punctuality Chart

Colombian airline Avianca has been recognized as the most punctual global airline in 2023. The distinction was awarded by Cirium, a firm that self-identifies as “The most trusted source for aviation analytics.” Avianca achieved the distinction for its on-time performance in 2023, attaining an 85.73% punctuality rate on its flights.

On March 21, the award ceremony took place in Bogota, Colombia, marking the first on-time global award for the Colombian airline in its 104-year history. Jeremy Bowen, Chief Executive Officer for Cirium, Frederico Pedreira, Chief Executive Officer of Avianca, and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Colombia Immigration Services, and other Avianca executives, along with over 200 Avianca team members attended the event.

Colombian airline Avianca achieves top on-time performance

In a statement on Cirium’s official website, the firm expressed: “We are proud to present this award honoring the achievements of Avianca while underscoring the critical importance of on-time performance in enhancing passenger satisfaction, operational efficiency, and the overall success of the airline industry.”

Cirium, a renowned global aviation consultancy with over 15 years of experience in compiling this ranking, meticulously analyzes data from over 35 million flights annually, considering factors such as schedules, airline fleets, and airports.

In Cirium’s evaluation criteria, an on-time flight denotes one that arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival. Similarly, for airports, on-time performance entails departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure.

During the ceremony, Pedreira lauded the concerted efforts of Avianca’s workforce, underscoring the commitment of over 14,000 individuals who collaborate with authorities and partners to ensure passengers’ safe and timely arrivals at their destinations, with baggage in tow.

The publication not only underscores Avianca’s relentless dedication to maintaining on-time operations amidst various external factors, including weather conditions, staffing constraints, and mechanical issues but also highlights the surge in demand witnessed in 2023. As elucidated by the CEO, over 32 million passengers chose to fly with Avianca during that year.

Additionally, it was explained that positions at the top of the ranking are often only separated by fractions of a percentage point. Avianca clinched the top spot in the global category with an OTP of 85.73%, surpassing the runner-up by a mere 0.2%. Moreover, Avianca’s remarkable improvement in on-time performance, from pre-pandemic levels to the present, was commended. The OTP for 2023 stands over 10% higher than in 2019 and 2% higher than in 2022.

Avianca connects Latin America and beyond

The Colombian company comprising Avianca, a Star Alliance member, LifeMiles, and Avianca Cargo, holds a dominant position in passenger transportation across Colombia, Ecuador, and Central America, with over a century of operational excellence since its inception in 1919. It boasts one of the largest air operations in Latin America, with 147 routes, nearly 710 daily flights, and a fleet of 140 Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Avianca connects over 75 destinations across 25 countries in the Americas and Europe.

In 2023 alone, Avianca served over 32.3 million customers with a staggering 213,000 flights. Its loyalty program, LifeMiles, boasts over 12.4 million members and partnerships with 500 brands across Latin America. In the realm of cargo transportation, Avianca emerges as a regional leader, with subsidiary Aerounion serving over 50 destinations with a fleet of 9 cargo aircraft, in addition to cargo operations in passenger aircraft holds.