Delta Air Lines is known for its courteous service and those Biscoff cookies, but it has distinguished itself for its prompt arrival and departure times. When you’re trying to save money on travel and get someplace on your trip, this is greatly appreciated.
In fact, a new report says Delta ranks first when it comes to punctuality. The OAG’s Punctuality League 2023 highlights the U.S. airlines that are the most and least punctual, which is the major benchmark for passengers looking to stay on schedule for their travels.
What Airline Is The Most Punctual In The U.S.?
Delta is the most punctual airline, according to the report, which cited the carrier’s extremely low cancellation rate (00.1%) and 81.79% on-time performance (OTP) rate.
The organization also analyzed how punctual the major U.S. airports were as well, with Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International coming in at #2 with an OTP rate of 80.08%.
Let’s look at the numbers, shall we?
America’s Most Punctual Airlines
| Airline | On-Time Performance Rate | Cancellation Rate % 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 81.79% | 1.94% |
| Alaska Airlines | 79.13% | 2.08% |
| United Airlines | 79.10% | 2.57% |
| American Airlines | 77.38% | 2.67% |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 75.80% | 0.58% |
| Spirit Airlines | 73.18% | 2.84% |
| Southwest Airlines | 71.61% | 3.17% |
| Frontier Airlines | 66.18% | 2.63% |
| JetBlue Airways | 63.90% | 3.32% |
| Allegiant Air | 63.22% | 4.43% |
While rankings only look at North American airlines, the global list has Delta ranked #17 respectively.
“Strong performance by U.S. Mega Airlines and Mega Airports reflects the competitive nature of the rapidly-recovering U.S. domestic market in 2022,” said John Grant, chief analyst at OAG. “Despite a tough end to the year, overall on-time performance is improving across the board as carriers provided slightly less frequency to ease operational pressures and delays. This in turn allows many carriers to deliver OTP levels last seen in the pre-pandemic era, if not better.”
How To Fly Delta Air Lines
If you’re thinking about flying Delta, you need to have a game plan in place for your safe travel. As the largest airline in Atlanta, the “red” side of the airport is one you can’t avoid. Here’s what to know before you buy your ticket.
Take Advantage of Free Wi-Fi
The airline made the announcement recently that it will begin a free Wi-Fi rollout on select aircraft in the near future. After that, smaller jets and the wide-body aircraft used for international flights will get free internet service in 2024.
Delta Is Hiring
Be patient with the staff because many of them are new or were recently hired. Getting hired at Delta is about as difficult as it is at any Fortune 500 company. It may take several weeks for the process to be completed.
Check Out Delta’s Economy Fares
We’re not saying that these fares don’t come with restrictions, because they do — a lot of them. But you need to know exactly what they are so you can choose whether the flight is right for you.