With the summer holidays coming to an end, many people will have flown abroad in last few months. Of these travellers, multiple would have experienced delays or cancelled flights. It’s worth asking the following: does spending a little extra guarantee a more punctual travel experience?
Recent data gathered from the OAG’S On Time Performance Report may answer this question.
OAG define on time flights as arriving within fifteen minutes of the scheduled time. Their On Time Performance report, described by OAG as a “crucial key performance indicator for airlines and airports” tracks how punctual airline arrivals are, including cancellations. This data has offered a possible insight into whether price matters when it comes to punctuality.
Low-cost airlines Jet2 and Ryanair were towards the bottom of the ranking, with scores of 60.69%and 61.72%.
They were outranked by several luxury airlines including Virgin Atlantic Airways and Qatar Airways, scoring 82.29% and 86.42% and securing themselves a place in the top twenty global airlines for punctuality. This data could show that luxury airlines are significantly outperforming their low-cost counterparts when it comes to punctuality.
It’s important to note that low-cost airlines Jet2, Ryanair and EasyJet (who scored 58.99%) work a greater number of flights compared to Qatar and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Whilst Ryanair and Easy Jet have run between 50,000 and 100,000 flights this year, Qatar and Virgin Atlantic have run fewer than 25,000 each. This difference in flight volume may help to explain the lower punctuality scores of budget airlines and highlight the strong performances of their luxury counterparts.
We’ve been helping clients claim back compensation from airlines for years and have dealt with budget friendly and upmarket carriers. Our research shows a potential correlation between spending more on flying and arriving at your destination on time.
Breaking down the report further, luxury airlines make up a sizeable part of the top fifty global airline at around 56%. These statistics could back up the idea that luxury flights are more punctual when it comes to arriving to their destinations on time.
When it comes to the price of flying, perhaps more really is more.
What Passengers Can Do to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
If you did experience a delayed or cancelled flight this summer, you may be entitled to flight delay compensation under EU Regulation 261.
Bott and Co offers a no-win, no-fee service for flight delay compensation, with no extra charges if the case goes to court. Bott and Co covers all legal fees, ensuring that passengers can seek compensation without financial risk.