SAS leads both global and European punctuality rankings in a demanding April

SAS has been named both the world’s and Europe’s most punctual airline in Cirium’s April 2026 On‑Time Performance report. With an on‑time arrival rate of 89.53 percent, SAS secured the top position across both rankings — a rare double achievement during a month marked by significant operational challenges across the industry.

SAS’ April performance comes as the airline marks its 80th anniversary year, and reflects a continued focus on stability, predictability and customer trust despite ongoing ripple effects from the situation in the Middle East and other operational pressures across the industry.

“This recognition goes first and foremost to the teams and unsung heroes across SAS who contribute every day to delivering a stable and reliable operation, with focus, professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility. Achieving the number one position both in Europe and globally, in a demanding operating environment shaped by continued Middle East‑related and other disruptions, demonstrates the strength of our operation, the resilience of our people and the consistency of how we work. Our customers place great trust in us, and those efforts across SAS are essential to honoring that trust and delivering the reliable travel experience they expect”, says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS.

The result marks the second consecutive month that SAS tops Cirium’s global punctuality ranking, following its number one position in March.

The April 2026 results also build on a strong track record, including being ranked no. 1 globally and in Europe in May 2025, seven European number‑one placements over the past two years, and four global number‑one results in the same period.

“April's 89.53% places SAS at the top of both the global and European categories in the same month, which is the rarest combination in monthly OTP data. Following March's global win, it reflects a level of operational consistency that few carriers manage across consecutive cycles”, says Mike Malik, Chief Industry Officer at Cirium.

Strengthened operations through disciplined execution

Over the past year, SAS has strengthened reliability through better and tighter turnaround processes, more structured daily planning, and closer coordination across departments. These measures continue to translate into stable, predictable operations across the network.

While April’s double number one ranking marks a significant milestone, SAS emphasizes that the work continues — with a clear focus on delivering reliable operations for customers throughout the summer and beyond.