SAS leads both the global and European punctuality rankings in a demanding April | News
SAS has been named the most punctual airline in the world and Europe in Cirium’s April 2026 On-Time Performance report. With an on-time rate of 89.53 percent, SAS secured the top position in both rankings – a rare double achievement during a month marked by significant operational challenges across the industry.
SAS’s April performance comes as the airline celebrates its 80th anniversary and reflects a continued focus on stability, predictability and customer confidence, despite continued ripple effects from the situation in the Middle East and other operational pressures in the industry.
“This recognition goes first and foremost to the teams and unsung heroes within SAS who contribute every day to delivering a stable and reliable operation, with focus, professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility. Achieving the number one position both in Europe and globally, in a demanding operating environment shaped by ongoing disruptions in the Middle East and elsewhere, demonstrates the strength of our operation, the resilience of our people and the consistency of the way we work. Our customers place great trust in us, and those efforts within SAS are essential to honoring that trust and delivering the reliable travel experience they expect,” said Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS.
The result marks the second month in a row that SAS has topped Cirium’s global punctuality rankings, following its number one position in March.
The April 2026 results also build on a strong track record, including No. 1 globally and in Europe in May 2025, seven European number one placements in the past two years, and four global number one results in the same period.
“April’s 89.53% puts SAS at the top of both the global and European categories in the same month, which is the rarest combination in monthly OTP data. After March’s global win, this reflects a level of operational consistency that few carriers manage in consecutive cycles,” said Mike Malik, Chief Industry Officer at Cirium.
Strengthening operations through disciplined execution
Over the past year, SAS has strengthened reliability through better and tighter turnaround processes, more structured daily planning and closer coordination between departments. These measures continue to translate into stable, predictable activity across the network.
While the double number one position in April marks a significant milestone, SAS emphasizes that the work continues – with a clear focus on delivering reliable operations for customers throughout the summer and beyond.
