Editor’s note: OAG’s initial report incorrectly stated the cancellation rates of Delta and other North American airlines. Delta’s cancellation rate for 2022 stood at 1.94%, lower than the industry average of 2.62%.

Delta is once again being recognized for its penchant for punctuality.

On the heels of Cirium's announcement that Delta was North America's most on-time airline – in addition to being the most punctual North American airline in Cirium's network and mainline categories – OAG Aviation Worldwide announced Delta was also No. 1 in its rankings. Delta also was the only U.S. carrier to crack the top 20 globally.

Delta climbed even higher among the world’s top 20 operators in terms of scheduled flights, ranking No. 6 among what OAG calls “mega airlines.” OAG also noted Delta’s low cancellation rate of just 1.94% of all flights, compared with the 2.62% industry average, in its report.

Delta has consistently placed a focus on providing on-time performance, a foundational expectation of its customers. The mantra: “safe, clean and on time with bags” is a common refrain throughout Delta’s operation – unifying all its people behind a common objective.

Nowhere was this commitment more evident than the waning days of 2022. All domestic carriers faced unprecedented impacts from the week-long winter event that blanketed most of the continental U.S. in snow and/or sub-freezing temperatures in late December, but Delta recovered quickly thanks to advanced planning to ensure station and crew stability.

Before the storm even hit, Delta took proactive steps to give customers advance notice. Operational disruptions lasted only a few days, with the airline resuming its industry-leading performance by Dec. 28. Delta’s planning experts applied lessons learned from previous events, and that coupled with upgraded technology allowed the airline to minimize customer impact.