Best Airlines in 2016

The FlightStats OPS Awards recognized best airlines around the world in 2016 for on-time performance. Airlines below deliver the highest percentage of flights to their arrival gates within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time. To determine the finalists and winners, FlightStats examines flight status and arrival data aggregated from global sources including civil aviation authorities, airlines, airports, and major airline reservation systems.

The report covers airlines in the following eight (8) categories:

1. Major International Airlines
2. Airline Alliances
3. North American Major Airlines
4. European Major Airlines
5. Asia-Pacific Major Airlines
6. Middle East & Africa Major Airlines
7. Latin American Major Airlines
8. Low-Cost Carrier

This year, the awards expanded to recognize the best Major Global Airline and best Major Global Airline Network in each of the regional categories as well as the international category. “Network” is defined as a system of flights that are marketed by a major airline but are operated by a separate airline partner. Most big, full-service airlines have these types of regional partnerships where as many as 8-10 carriers operate flights on their behalf.

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Network
WINNER: KLM
FINALISTS: KLM, Iberia, JAL, Qatar Airways, Austrian, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, TAM Linhas Aereas, Qantas

Mainline
WINNER: Iberia
FINALISTS: Iberia, JAL, Delta Air Lines, KLM, Qatar Airways, Austrian, Singapore Airlines, ANA, TAM Linhas Aereas, Qantas

AIRLINE ALLIANCE
WINNER: oneworld
FINALISTS: oneworld, Star Alliance, SkyTeam

NORTH AMERICAN MAJOR AIRLINES
Network
WINNER: Alaska Airlines
FINALISTS: Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, WestJet, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Virgin America, JetBlue Airways, Air Canada

Mainline
WINNER: Alaska Airlines
FINALISTS: Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, WestJet, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Virgin America, JetBlue Airways, Air Canada

EUROPEAN MAJOR AIRLINES
Network
WINNER: Iberia
FINALISTS: Iberia, Austrian, Lufthansa, S7 Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, SWISS, Condor, British Airways, EasyJet, Vueling

Mainline
WINNER: Iberia
FINALISTS: Iberia, KLM, Austrian, S7 Airlines, SAS, Lufthansa, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Aeroflot, Condor, SWISS

ASIA-PACIFIC MAJOR AIRLINES
Network
WINNER: JAL
FINALISTS: JAL, Virgin Australia, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Jet Airways (India), Cathay Pacific, Jetstar, IndiGo

Mainline
WINNER: JAL
FINALISTS: JAL, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Jet Airways (India), Cathay Pacific, Jetstar, IndiGo

MIDDLE EAST and AFRICA MAJOR AIRLINES
Network
WINNER: Qatar Airways
FINALISTS: Qatar Airways, Saudia, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Flydubai, Kenya Airways, Pegasus

Mainline
WINNER: Qatar Airways
FINALISTS: Qatar Airways, South African Airways, Saudia, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Flydubai, Kenya Airways, Pegasus

LATIN AMERICAN MAJOR AIRLINES
Network
WINNER: Copa Airlines
FINALISTS: Copa Airlines, TAM Linhas Aereas, Gol, Aerolineas Argentinas, LAN Airlines, AVIANCA, Aeromexico

Mainline
WINNER: Copa Airlines
FINALISTS: Copa Airlines, TAM Linhas Aereas, Gol, Aerolineas Argentinas, LAN Airlines, Aeromexico, AVIANCA

LOW-COST AIRLINES
WINNER: Iberia Express
FINALISTS: Iberia Express, Air Baltic, Solaseed Air, Air Do, WestJet, Southwest Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Nok Air, NIKI, Frontier Airlines

Japan Airlines To Serve Halal Food On All Flights

Japan Airlines has revealed it will provide Halal certified Muslim meals on all outbound international flights from Japan.

JAL has been serving Muslim meal as a special meal for Muslim customers.

Recently the airline has received Halal Certification from Japan Islamic Trust, for the whole processing of its Muslim meal menus aboard all international flights departing from Japan.

Additionally JAL has changed all dishware used for Muslim meals to disposable one with Halal Certification in order to deliver a sense of security to Muslim customers when they enjoy our in-flight meals.

JAL will be striving to serve customers with delicious meals which are only available aboard JAL flights and provide customers with a pleasant and comfortable travel experience.

TAIWAN: EVA Air Increases Flights To JFK Airport

EVA Air of Taiwan will be adding three additional weekly flights on their direct Taipei (TPE) – JFK route effective July 7, thus bringing the airline’s total number of New York flights to ten weekly.


The Star Alliance member first began service to the New York area in 1992 with service to Newark via Seattle. With the delivery of new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft the route went nonstop in 2008, although a technical stop in ANC in one direction was still required. In 2011 the airline moved to JFK with nonstop flights and eventually increased to a daily frequency.

The additional flights will operate during daylight hours on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday – a great opportunity for local spotters to finally catch the airline’s fun array of ‘Hello Kitty’ inspired aircraft. EVA recently introduced a new corporate livery and has announced intentions of adding Chicago and Washington, D.C. to their route map in the United States.

The airline currently serves Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and San Francisco, in addition to Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. Further growth is expected with orders for Boeing 787 aircraft.

EVA Air joins other Asian carriers who have recently increased their JFK frequency, many adding a second rotation on certain days of the week. Among these include ANA, JAL, China Eastern, and Air China who have all added to the market.

Schedule:

BR030 TPE0750 – 1045JFK 77W 246
BR032 TPE1910 – 2205JFK 77W D

BR031 JFK0125 – 0455+1TPE 77W D
BR029 JFK1245 – 1615+1TPE 77W 246

JAPAN: Japan Air To Dallas/Fort Worth

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) will restore the Tokyo (Narita) – Dallas/Fort Worth route on November 30. The restored route will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners four days a week

American Airlines is pleased to welcome fellow oneworld alliance member and Pacific Joint Business partner Japan Airlines (JAL) to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with its return to service between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and DFW starting November 30, 2015. American will add its code to the route.

American currently operates twice-daily service from DFW to NRT with Boeing 777-200 aircraft. JAL will offer customers service four days per week with Boeing 787-8 aircraft fitted with the airline’s latest cabin interiors and seats in a three-class configuration and is considering scheduling daily service for spring 2016.

“On behalf of American’s 100,000 employees, we welcome our joint business partner, Japan Airlines, to our great hub in Dallas/Fort Worth,” said Andrew Nocella, American’s chief marketing officer. “American is making great strides to expand our presence in Asia, and this partnership represents a key component of that effort. This new service complements American’s existing service and brings more choice for our customers traveling between Asia and the U.S., providing more opportunities to connect Asia to South America. Japan Airlines is an honorable partner and a great friend to American.”

“We are pleased to announce the return of Dallas/Fort Worth to our international network, which becomes our eighth gateway in North America and our fourth U.S. service launch in just over three years,” said Yoshiharu Ueki, President of Japan Airlines. “By making full use of the efficiencies of the Dreamliner as well as capitalizing on our even stronger relationship with American Airlines, we are confident this resumed service will provide even more valuable links for commercial and cultural exchanges for our customers in both regions and beyond.”

“We are honored to welcome back Japan Airlines to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and are excited about the outstanding connectivity and customer service they will provide to passengers flying to Japan and throughout Asia,” said Sean Donohue, chief executive officer of DFW Airport. “With the addition of this new flight to Tokyo, coupled with partner American Airlines’ two daily flights, DFW Airport will further support our mission to connect the world to Dallas Fort Worth.”

American and JAL commenced their Pacific Joint Business partnership in April 2011, and have since greatly expanded customer benefits including better flight schedules, expanded codesharing, more coordinated services and greater access to a wider variety of fares.

JAL will offer a special bonus mile campaign for JAL Mileage Bank loyalty program members. For details, refer to the JAL website.