air canada delays

Air Canada ranked the worst major airline in North America for on-time performance

Canada's airlines didn't crack the top five best in North America for their ability to get their passengers from point A to point B on time, according to a new ranking.

Delta Air Lines took the prestigious top spot for punctuality, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics website.

"The On-Time Performance Review 2023" report found Delta not only has an "unwavering commitment to punctuality and operational excellence" but also was awarded the Cirium Platinum Award as it continues to navigate complex operational challenges, such as post-pandemic travel, through hard work and dedication.

Delta had an on-time rate of 84.72 per cent across all flights tracked in 2023, the report found.

But, north of the border, the arrival times were a little bit more scattered.

Wesjet placed 7th in North American airlines, with a 69.29 per cent on-time arrival success rate.

Air Canada placed in the 10th spot with a 63.17 per cent rate in 2023.

air canada delays

cirium.com

Globally, Delta only placed fourth.

air canada delays

cirium.com

The best on-time arrival, according to Cirium, was SA Avianca, based in Colombia.

It won as it "succeeded in reinventing itself following its emergence from bankruptcy in December 2021 with a plan to modernize its fleet, improve customer satisfaction, increase operational efficiency, and to help fill the void left by the cessation of operations by low-cost [Colombian] carrier Viva," Cirium said.

Lead photo by

Robin Guess/Shutterstock


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Travel

Passenger shares unreal photo of the northern lights from airplane over Ontario

Two spas in Ontario were just ranked among the best in Canada

How to have the ultimate fall colour experience in Ontario

There's a legendary hidden staircase hand-carved into the side of an Ontario mountain

The second oldest small town in Ontario is also an adorable village

There's a trail in Ontario lined with countless hand-painted birdhouses

Airlines' appeal against Canadian passenger protections quashed in court

WestJet apologizes to customers for 'a tough summer'