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Elijah Felice Rosales - The Philippine Star
December 11, 2025 | 12:00am
PAL’s on-time rate outperformed the regional average of 79.81 percent among the most punctual. It also completed 96.31 percent of its 9,739 flights in November even while dozens of flights were canceled as a safety precaution from typhoons.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has extended its leadership as the most punctual operator in Asia-Pacific by keying in the best on-time rate for the fourth consecutive month.
Based on Cirium’s On-Time Performance Monthly Report, PAL scored the best punctuality rate of 84.67 percent in November despite flight disruptions caused by the recent software update for Airbus aircraft.
This marks the fourth straight month and fifth time this year that the flag carrier emerged as the most punctual airline in the region.
PAL’s on-time rate outperformed the regional average of 79.81 percent among the most punctual. It also completed 96.31 percent of its 9,739 flights in November even while dozens of flights were canceled as a safety precaution from typhoons.
In the region, flag carrier Korean Air came second with a punctuality rate of 83.72 percent, while low-cost airline Jeju Air landed third with 83.25 percent. Japan’s Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways ranked next with 80.87 percent and 80.68 percent, respectively.
Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand and Asiana Airlines also entered the list of the most punctual in the region with 79.45 percent, 79.38 percent and 75.55 percent, in that order.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asian flag carriers Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines rounded up the list with their punctuality scores of 75.37 percent and 75.15 percent, respectively.
Globally, flag carrier Aeromexico bested the rankings of the most prompt airlines in November, turning in an on-time rate of 91.36 percent to outpace Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air Malta and Wizz Air and Iberia.
Cirium examines the on-time performance of a flight based on how early an aircraft makes it at the gate as compared to its schedule. Making it to the on-time list means passengers reached their destinations promptly and airlines complied with their airport slots.
PAL is adding new jets to its fleet to boost capacity, as it expects to end the year with 83 aircraft in hand. The flag carrier owned by the Tan family will also receive the first of its nine long-range Airbus A350-1000s either by this month or in January.
However, the aviation industry globally sustained a meltdown in terms of operational stability, as it saw cancellations go up by 40 percent on the Airbus requirement to update software.
