Time management is everything in air transport, mainly because it takes serious coordination to make flights run on schedule. Across Africa, a few airlines have built strong reputations for being on time. Here are the five that lead the continent in punctuality.
How On-Time Performance Is Measured
For this article, I referred to rankings by respected industry trackers such as Cirium and the Official Airline Guide (OAG).
These organizations use standards recognized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for measuring On-Time Performance (OTP).
In simple terms, OTP measures whether a plane departs within 15 minutes of its scheduled time. If it does, the flight is considered on time.
Of course, factors like bad weather or poor planning can cause delays. Tracking OTP helps passengers know which airlines they can count on.
1. Safair
Safair began operations in 1965 under the name Tropair. Today, it runs as an affiliate of ASL Aviation Holdings and is widely recognized as Africa’s most punctual airline.
Safair consistently ranks at the top, not just in Africa but across the Middle East as well. In OAG’s latest global rankings, it is the only African airline to appear among the leading carriers.
The airline’s reliability has been proven over many years. Some of its major awards include:
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Most On-Time Airline in the Middle East and Africa (Cirium, 2024)
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Most Punctual Airline in Africa (OAG, 2022)
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Most On-Time Airline in the World (OAG, April 2017)
Safair’s 2025 OTP Record
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January: 94.68%
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February: 95.51%
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March: 93.70%
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April: 94.69%
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May: 95.45%
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June: 92.36%
These impressive figures have already earned Safair recognition from Skytrax this year. That particular award matters because it reflects customer feedback from people who have actually flown with the airline.
Safair’s reputation for reliability has also led to partnerships with organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Food Programme, and the United Nations. The airline supports humanitarian missions both within and beyond Africa.
In 2014, Safair launched its low-cost brand FlySafair, which now operates short-haul routes including Johannesburg, Maputo, Port Elizabeth, and Victoria Falls.
2. South African Airways
A founding member of the Star Alliance network, South African Airways (SAA) traces its roots back to 1929 when it operated as Union Airways. It remains one of the continent’s most established carriers.
Although the South African government still owns SAA (efforts to privatize it in 2021 failed), the airline continues to deliver solid performance. According to FlightStats, from May 1 to June 2 this year, 80% of SAA flights departed on time, while only 14% were late. None were canceled or diverted.
SAA’s best punctuality record came in 2019 when Cirium named it Africa’s Most On-Time Airline. That year, Northstar Travel Media reported that 90% of SAA flights leaving Heathrow’s Terminal 2 departed as scheduled.
Former Acting CEO Zuks Ramasia emphasized that OTP is one of the airline’s most important customer performance indicators, adding, “We place a high premium on punctuality.”
Today, SAA serves multiple destinations across Africa and flies to Australia and Brazil. It partners with SA Express and Airlink and operates its own low-cost carrier, Mango, to enhance efficiency.
3. Jambojet
Not to be confused with “jumbo jet,” the nickname for large commercial aircraft, Jambojet is a subsidiary of Kenya Airways launched in 2014 as a low-cost carrier.
Right from the start, Jambojet prioritized punctuality. Between April and October 2014, it recorded an 85% OTP rate, a strong performance even by global standards.
Improving Over Time
By 2020, after upgrading its fleet, the airline reached a 90% OTP between September and October. That high standard has mostly continued, with its 2023 average around 80%.
Jambojet 2023 OTP Breakdown:
JAN: 82.9%, FEB: 82%, MAR: 84.6%, APR: 76.2%, MAY: 85%, JUN: 81.7%, JUL: 76.8%, AUG: 68.2%, SEP: 82%, OCT: 84.5%, NOV: 81%, DEC: 70%
Despite being a low-cost carrier, Jambojet’s punctuality rivals that of its parent company, proving that affordability doesn’t have to mean compromise.
It serves both domestic routes (Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, Eldoret) and international ones across Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda, Comoros, Somalia, South Sudan, Madagascar, and Ethiopia.
4. Nouvelair
Founded 36 years ago as a subsidiary of the French company Air Liberté, Nouvelair has grown into one of Africa’s most successful airlines. Punctuality has been central to its success. According to OAG, Nouvelair achieved a 74.5% OTP last month with zero cancellations.
The airline’s commitment to service quality has fueled steady expansion. It now operates flights to more than 130 destinations across 30 countries, including Germany, France, Poland, Turkey, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia.
Nouvelair’s registered offices are in Tunis, while its headquarters are in Monastir. The airline operates from three main bases: Carthage International Airport, Habib Bourguiba International Airport, and Zarzis Airport in Djerba.
5. Kenya Airways
Established in 1977, Kenya Airways (KQ) remains one of Africa’s top airlines and a symbol of reliability. The fact that both KA and its subsidiary Jambojet made this list says a lot about the airline’s focus on time management.
In January 2024, Cirium ranked Kenya Airways second in Africa’s “Most On-Time Airline” category for 2023, just behind Safair. The airline also placed tenth overall across Africa and the Middle East.
CEO Allan Kilavuka described the recognition as proof of Kenya Airways’ ongoing efforts to improve on-time performance and overall service quality.
Kenya Airways is also known for its strong partnerships. It belongs to the SkyTeam Alliance, the Africa Shared Values Initiative, and the UN Global Compact, all of which promote collaboration and excellence.
Recently, the airline launched a direct route from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to London’s Gatwick Airport, further expanding its global reach.
Final Thoughts
Punctuality reflects more than just efficiency; it shows respect for passengers’ time and trust. These five African airlines have set themselves apart through consistency, reliability, and a commitment to service that rivals the best in the world.