Press release —
Norwegian named Europe’s most punctual airline as it heads into the busy summer season
Norwegian has been named Europe’s most punctual airline in May 2026, according to the latest On-Time Performance (OTP) rankings from Cirium, the leading aviation analytics company.
With an On-time performance score of 88.58 percent as measured by Cirium, Norwegian ranked first among all European airlines, underlining the company’s strong operational performance and reliability ahead of the peak summer travel season.
“We are very proud to be recognised as Europe’s most punctual airline. For our customers, punctuality means confidence that their journey will go according to plan. This achievement reflects the focused efforts we have made over time to strengthen our operation and deliver a reliable and predictable travel experience,” says Henrik Fjeld, Chief Operation Officer in Norwegian.
Over the past three months, Norwegian has operated close to 100 percent of its scheduled flights. The combination of high punctuality and high regularity highlights the resilience and stability of the airline’s operation as it prepares for the busiest travel period of the year.
“Punctuality is important, but it is only one part of the full picture. High regularity means that we deliver the flights we put on sale and that our operation performs consistently day after day. Achieving Europe’s highest punctuality while simultaneously operating more than 99 percent of scheduled flights is clear evidence of a robust and well-functioning operation,” says Henrik Fjeld.
Employee commitment behind Europe-leading performance
For Norwegian, the Cirium ranking is an important recognition of the long-term work undertaken across the company to strengthen operational performance, improve efficiency and create a more resilient airline.
“Being named Europe’s most punctual airline is first and foremost a recognition of the dedication and professionalism of our colleagues in the air, on ground, and across the organisation. Every on-time departure and arrival is the result of teamwork, commitment and operational excellence. This achievement gives us a strong platform as we head into the busiest months of the year,” says Fjeld.
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About Norwegian
The Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company, headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo, Norway. The company has over 8,900 employees and owns two of the prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap. Widerøe was acquired by Norwegian in 2024, aiming to facilitate seamless air travel across the two airline’s networks.
Norwegian Air Shuttle, the largest Norwegian airline with around 5,200 employees, operates an extensive route network connecting Nordic countries to key European destinations. In 2025, Norwegian carried 23 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 95 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Widerøe’s Flyveselskap, Norway’s oldest airline, is Scandinavia’s largest regional carrier. The airline has more than 3,700 employees. Mainly operating the short-runway airports in rural Norway, Widerøe operates several state contract routes (PSO routes) in addition to its own commercial network. In 2025, the airline had 4.1 million passengers and a fleet of 51 aircraft, including 48 Bombardier Dash 8s and three Embraer E190-E2s. Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports.
The Norwegian group has sustainability as a key priority and has committed to significantly reducing carbon emissions from its operations. Among numerous initiatives, the most noteworthy is the investment in production and use of fossil-free aviation fuel (SAF). Norwegian strives to become the sustainable choice for its passengers, actively contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry.
