San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport in El Salvador has achieved global recognition as the fourth most punctual small airport in the world, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The announcement was part of Cirium’s 2024 On-Time Performance Review, which evaluates punctuality in airports and airlines based on passenger and flight volume.

The ranking highlights airports that excel in departing flights within 14 minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled time. Cirium defines on-time flights as those arriving at their gate within the same time frame.

Located in San Luis Talpa, La Paz, the Salvadoran airport earned its fourth-place spot with an 89.33% on-time departure rate across 34 routes. The airport, managed by the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA), handled over five million passengers in 2024, serviced by 14 commercial airlines connecting to 33 destinations across the Americas and Europe.

Global Context

The most punctual small airport was José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with a 98.78% on-time departure rate. It was followed by Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador (90.05%), and Cape Town International Airport in South Africa (89.39%).

El Salvador is the only Central American country featured in the ranking for small airports. Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, a regional hub, leads the medium airport category with an impressive 90.34% punctuality.

On a global scale, the most punctual airport in 2024 was King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, followed by Jorge Chávez International Airport in Peru and Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico.

This recognition reinforces El Salvador’s growing prominence in global aviation, showcasing its commitment to efficiency and service excellence.