CANBERRA- Qantas (QF) has secured another major global aviation achievement after ranking as the world’s second-most punctual major airline in April 2026.
The Australian flag carrier delivered an on-time performance rate of 87.8%, according to the latest global airline rankings released by aviation analytics company OAG.
The result places Qantas just behind SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK), which led the global rankings with an 89.1% on-time performance score.
The latest recognition comes weeks after Qantas was also named among the world’s 15 most valuable airline brands, further strengthening its recovery momentum in the international aviation market.
Qantas Ranks 2nd in On-Time Performance
OAG’s monthly on-time performance rankings evaluate airlines operating more than 20,000 flights per month worldwide. Qantas improved significantly from March 2026, when it ranked ninth globally with an 83.7% punctuality rate.
British Airways (BA) secured third place with an 85.8% score, followed by Alaska Airlines (AS) at 85.2% and All Nippon Airways (NH) at 84.5%.
Other airlines completing the top 10 included KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), easyJet (U2), Azul Airlines (AD), Delta Air Lines (DL), and Avianca (AV).
Middle Eastern carriers were excluded from the April rankings because of ongoing operational disruptions across the region. Despite the exclusion, the rankings still covered several of the world’s busiest international operators.
Qantas’ improved operational consistency reflects broader efforts by the airline to stabilize schedules and reduce delays across its domestic and international network.
Airlines globally have continued to face aircraft shortages, staffing challenges, and congested airports since the post-pandemic recovery surge.
Australian Airline Results
Virgin Australia (VA) also posted strong operational results during April, ranking 12th among large global airlines operating between 10,000 and 20,000 monthly flights. The airline achieved an on-time performance rate of 84.2%.
Low-cost carrier Jetstar (JQ), part of the Qantas Group, finished 24th with a punctuality score of 75.84%. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand (NZ) secured a position among the top 15 large airlines globally with an 82.3% result.
Separate data released by Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics showed the Qantas Group maintained the strongest domestic arrival performance in March.
Qantas and QantasLink recorded an 80.1% on-time arrival rate, outperforming rival Australian carriers.
Virgin Australia’s combined network posted a 77.7% domestic arrival performance during the same period. Regional operator Hinterland led individual airline rankings with an 84.3% score, ahead of QantasLink and Virgin Australia.
Network Adjustments Ahead for Qantas
The strong punctuality performance comes as the Qantas Group continues adjusting capacity across several international markets.
Last week, the airline announced schedule changes affecting Qantas and Jetstar services, including reductions in Trans-Tasman capacity and modifications to selected European routes, Karryon flagged.
Despite the network changes, Qantas has continued prioritizing operational reliability as competition intensifies across Asia-Pacific aviation markets.
Improved punctuality has become increasingly important for airlines seeking to rebuild customer confidence and maintain premium positioning.
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