Norwegian Leads European Airlines for May 2026 On-Time Performance with 88.58% Punctuality Score

(IN SHORT) Norwegian has been named Europe’s most punctual airline for May 2026 in the latest On-Time Performance rankings from Cirium, recording an on-time performance score of 88.58%. The result places Norwegian first among European airlines and underlines the company’s operational reliability ahead of the peak summer travel season. Over the past three months, Norwegian has also operated close to 100% of its scheduled flights, combining strong punctuality with high regularity across its network. Henrik Fjeld, Norwegian’s Chief Operation Officer, said the recognition reflects the airline’s long-term work to strengthen operations and deliver a predictable travel experience for passengers. He also highlighted the importance of employee commitment, noting that punctuality and regularity depend on teamwork across crews, ground operations and the wider organisation. The ranking provides Norwegian with a strong operational platform as it enters one of the busiest periods of the year for European aviation.

(PRESS RELEASE) BÆRUM, Norway, 2026-Jun-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Norwegian has been ranked as Europe’s most punctual airline for May 2026, according to the latest On-Time Performance rankings from Cirium, the aviation analytics company.

The airline recorded an on-time performance score of 88.58%, placing it first among European carriers. The result highlights Norwegian’s operational reliability as the company prepares for the peak summer travel period, one of the busiest times of the year for air travel.

Henrik Fjeld, Chief Operation Officer at Norwegian, said the recognition is an important achievement for the airline and reflects the work carried out over time to strengthen operational performance. He noted that punctuality gives customers confidence that their journey will run as planned and supports Norwegian’s goal of delivering a predictable and dependable travel experience.

The ranking comes as Norwegian continues to demonstrate strong regularity across its network. Over the past three months, the airline has operated close to 100% of its scheduled flights, showing both reliability in departure and arrival times and consistency in delivering the services made available to passengers.

According to Fjeld, punctuality is only one measure of operational strength. He said high regularity is equally important because it shows that the airline is able to operate the flights it sells and maintain stable performance across the network. Achieving Europe’s highest punctuality while also operating more than 99% of scheduled flights demonstrates the strength and resilience of Norwegian’s day-to-day operations.

Norwegian said the Cirium recognition reflects long-term efforts across the company to improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and maintain operational discipline. The airline has focused on building a more reliable operation that can perform consistently during periods of high demand.

Fjeld added that the result is first and foremost a recognition of Norwegian’s employees, including colleagues in the air, on the ground and across the wider organisation. He said every on-time departure and arrival depends on teamwork, professionalism and operational excellence.

The achievement gives Norwegian a strong foundation as it enters the busy summer season, when passenger volumes rise and airline operations face increased pressure across Europe.

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

Press contact
Norwegian Press Office
press@norwegian.com
+47 815 11 816

SOURCE: Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA ®