SriLankan Airlines is world’s most punctual airline once again!

SriLankan Airlines has “achieved the remarkable feat of being named the World’s Most Punctual Airline” yet again, with 90.75 per cent of its flights in May 2019 being ‘ on- time’ throughout its route network, the airline announced in a statement on Friday.

This is the second time in less than 12 months that SriLankan has achieved this milestone, having also achieved the world’s number one ranking in September 2018 with a punctuality rating of 91.37 per cent.

SriLankan headed the categories of ‘ Global Airlines’ and ‘ Major Airlines’, among all airlines that are monitored by the flight data analysis company Flightstats.com (www.flightstats. com). Flightstats analyses data of airlines across every continent - Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, and South America – including most of the world’s largest and most prestigious airlines. Airlines are placed among four categories – ‘ Global Airlines’, ‘ Major Airlines’, ‘ Regional Airlines’ and ‘Low Cost Carriers’ – with some airlines appearing in more than one category.

Vipula Gunatilleka, Group Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan, said: “Heartiest congratulations to our companywide team, guided by our Punctuality Improvement Committee, that toils day in and day out to delight our customers by having our flights arrive and depart on time, every time.”

In the ‘Global Airlines’ category, second place went to the Brazilian airline LATAM with Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways in third place; while the ‘Major Airlines’ category had All Nippon Airways placing second with GoAir third.

“This achievement is all the more impressive due to the challenges caused by heightened security at SriLankan’s hub at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, and clearly demonstrates the extraordinary commitment of the national carrier in providing the finest service to its customers even during a period of adversity,” the statement said.

SriLankan has consistently been one of the world’s most punctual airlines over the last 12 months, with 86 per cent of flights departing on time and 85 per cent arriving on time from June 2018 through May 2019 on average.

“SriLankan’s consistently high level of on- time performance is the result of an exhaustive process that co-ordinates the performance of all departments and individual staff members responsible for various aspects of its operations throughout its global route network. It also involves managing situations that arise which are not under the direct control of the airline such as adverse weather, working with foreign airport agencies, Customs and Immigration delays, delays by passengers, etc,” the airline said.

Some years back, the airline was dubbed as as "UL- Usually late" due to delays in arrival and departure.