Qatar Airways 'world’s most punctual airline'

Qatar Airways was the “world’s most punctual international network airline” with 89.8% of its 177,324 flights monitored departing on time in 2018, an analysis by FlightGlobal’s FlightStats shows.The analysis ranks “oneworld as the alliance with the most punctual airline operations in 2018 for the sixth year running.”It means oneworld has retained this premier on-time status since FlightGlobal’s FlightStats started tracking alliance punctuality. This latest honour means that oneworld is now the current holder of seven “best airline alliance” titles internationally – more than twice as many as both other global airline alliances combined. The ranking is based on analysis by FlightGlobal’s FlightStats of some 45mn flights operated by hundreds of airlines globally in the past year – which showed that oneworld members collectively maintained a more punctual operation across the 12 months than their counterparts in the other global airline groups. FlightGlobal’s FlightStats’ study of the 4.6mn oneworld flights in 2018 - operated by the alliance's 13-member airlines and their 30 affiliated carriers, serving more than 1,000 destinations in 150 plus countries - showed 81.59% of them departed on time. oneworld member-airlines collectively also achieved the best arrival punctuality in 2018, with 80.22% of them landing on-time, a 2-point improvement on either competitor global alliance. oneworld members also took top honours FlightGlobal’s FlightStats’ 2018 awards for individual airlines. Three other oneworld members also made it to the world’s Top 10 airline network list – 2017’s winner Iberia, American Airlines and LATAM, the alliance said releasing the FlightGlobal’s FlightStats analysis on Monday.FlightGlobal FlightStats said its awards are “designed to recognise the hard work of the airlines that demonstrate consistently high performance and deliver on their promise to get passengers to their destinations on-time”. It curates the data from more than 600 global sources. Besides Qatar Airways, the oneworld members include American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and SriLankan Airlines, and around 30 affiliates. Royal Air Maroc is a oneworld member-elect. Fiji Airways has just joined as the first oneworld connect partner. As part of oneworld, these airlines serve more than 1,000 airports in 160-plus territories, with some 14,000 daily departures. The alliance members carry almost 550mn passengers a year on a combined fleet of 3,500 aircraft. Oneworld alliance said it generates some $135bn in annual revenues.Top tier oneworld loyalty cardholders (Emerald and Sapphire) enjoy access to more than 650 airport lounges and are offered extra baggage allowances. The most regular travellers (Emerald) can also use fast track security lanes at select airports.