SAS (Scandinavian Airlines Systems), also known as Scandinavian Airlines, has been named the world’s most punctual airline for the second month running by aviation analytics firm Cirium’s monthly report. It topped the rankings for both European and Global Airlines and beat other airlines from the SkyTeam Alliance.
Celebrations at SAS
In May 2025, 89.72% of SAS flights arrived on time, beating Saudia and Aeroméxico; for the third month in a row, the top three positions for the world’s most punctual airline have been secured by airlines from the SkyTeam airline alliance, which SAS joined in September 2024. Placing second in March, SAS took first place in April and May of this year. It also consistently placed in the top three throughout Winter 2024-2025. The rankings were published in a monthly report by Cirium, a leading aviation analytics company tracking operational performance across the industry. SAS attributes its improvements in punctuality to new internal targets, tighter turnaround processes and consistent performance tracking as part of a push to strengthen operational quality.
Anko van der Werff, President and CEO of SAS, issued the following statement about the airline’s top ranking:
“This achievement is a tribute to our incredible teams across SAS — end-to-end planning from network and crews to technicians and operations control — who show true dedication every single day. It proves what’s possible when everyone pulls in the same direction. Improving punctuality takes daily focus, teamwork and thousands of smart decisions across the operation. It’s been a clear priority for us, knowing how much it matters to our customers and our own teams — and we’re seeing the difference it makes. Being ranked number one is a great moment for the entire SAS team, and a sign that the steps we’ve taken are delivering real results.”
Mike Malik, Chief Marketing Officer at Cirium, commended SAS and its CEO for their achievements:
“SAS is clearly on a strong trajectory. To go from 15th place in 2023 to taking the top spot in both Europe and Global categories — two months in a row — is no small feat. These results speak to a consistent focus on operational performance and a clear commitment to the customer experience. With an 89.72% ontime rate in May, SAS continues to set the pace. Congratulations again to Anko van der Werff and the entire team. It’s great to see this kind of momentum in action.”
About SAS
SAS is the national airline of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Its global hub is situated at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), with additional bases in Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARN). It has over 10,000 employees and serves more than 25 million passengers per year. In April, the airline introduced 28 new routes which will commence in Summer 2025. It also aims to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2050. As a member of the SkyTeam alliance, SAS joins Aeroméxico, China Eastern, Virgin Atlantic and many more to provide customers with an extensive network of destinations, which customers can find on the SAS website.
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