FlySafair crowned most punctual airline in the Middle East and Africa

South African airline FlySafair has been officially recognised as the most punctual airline in the Middle East and Africa, according to the Cirium 2025 On-Time Performance Review.

With an impressive on-time arrival score of 91.06%, FlySafair has outstripped its regional competitors and maintained a leading position against some of the world's prominent global airlines. This accolade is not merely a lucky break; it's a testament to FlySafair's meticulous operational standards and the dedication of its pilots.

Travellers who have flown with the airline often remark that “they don’t fly, they teleport,” experiencing journeys where a typical 50-minute flight frequently concludes in just 30 minutes.

Passengers often disembark before they have even had time to finish their snacks, as pilots excitedly announce, “We’ll be arriving ahead of schedule,” before the speed of their arrival can even be comprehended.

FlySafair's approach to flying seems to operate outside the conventional waiting game of air travel.

Like a flying taxi gliding through the skies with precision, the airline successfully navigates delays with a finesse akin to a driver traversing the N3 highway at dawn.

According to Cirium’s comprehensive analysis, FlySafair’s steadfast punctuality stems from several essential components.

These include precise scheduling, rapid 30-minute turnaround times, and the smart utilisation of real-time data.

This streamlined approach minimises downtime and erases those excruciatingly long moments where passengers strain to glimpse the sky, hoping for updates on unexpected delays. Kirby Gordon, FlySafair's Chief Marketing Officer, highlighted this achievement as a remarkable feat in the face of persistent challenges, such as air traffic management and fuel supply issues.

Despite the common turbulence of air travel, FlySafair remains steadfastly committed to keeping flights ahead of schedule. Cirium's recognitions are grounded in solid data analysis, drawing from more than 25 million data points gathered from over 600 different sources. This rigorous methodology lays bare the numerical foundation upon which FlySafair's ranking resides.

The leaderboard for on-time performance in the Middle East and Africa reveals the following standings:    1. FlySafair - 91.06% on-time rate    2. Royal Jordanian - 90.73% on-time rate    3. Flyadeal - 86.54% on-time rate    4. Saudia - 86.53% on-time rate   5. Airlink - 84.47% on-time rate Notably, two South African airlines made it into the top five, illustrating that while the locals may exhibit tardiness in social settings like braais, when it comes to landings, South Africa is setting the pace.

Since its inception in 2014, FlySafair has consistently ranked among the world's most punctual airlines, gathering accolades while becoming the preferred choice for South Africans who value efficiency. Whether it's reaching an important business meeting, attending a family wedding, or catching a crucial connecting flight, FlySafair delivers on its promise of timeliness.

Interestingly, while FlySafair's on time performance was slightly lower than the 93.82% success rate achieved in 2024, it remains the highest in the region. Despite not qualifying for Cirium's global rankings due to its status as a smaller domestic airline serving a limited market, FlySafair nevertheless surpassed the global benchmark and outperformed Aeromexico, the world's most punctual global airline, which recorded a score of 90.02%.