KLM is the most on-time international airline

Dutch flag carrier KLM registered the lowest number of flight delays of all major international airlines in 2016 according to statistics released by airline rating agency FlightStats on Tuesday, the Financieele Dagblad reported.

FlightStats said only 11% of KLM flights were delayed last year, followed by Iberia of Spain and Japan Airlines. KLM also topped the list of least delayed flights in 2014.

FlightStats named Icelandair, where 41% of flights were delayed and Israel’s El Al (56% delay rate) as the worst offenders.

Analysts at FlightStats monitor as many flights as possible every year. In 2016, it compared planned take-off and landing times of 234,881 KLM flights, nearly 90% of all those operated by the Dutch national carrier.

On time departures do not always mean the flight leaves its slot at its scheduled time. KLM is apparently very good at making up delays. In 2016, 83% of KLM flights departed at the scheduled time, but nearly 89% arrived on schedule.

By way of contrast, only 9% of JAL flights took off late, but 12% of flights arrived at their destinations behind schedule.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation