Here’s the latest airline operations performance update! Today we have updated our performance review for Air France, Ryanair, easyJet, and British Airways. Discover the airlines’ number of flights, cancellation rates, and on-time performance + latest forecasts.

Airline Operations Update, 17th August 2021
With today’s update, we present the latest airline operations performance figures of the mentioned European airlines. Again, we took a look at the number of flights, cancellations, and on-time performance. Here’s an overview of the contained airlines if you want to jump to a specific carrier directly.
Contained Airlines
Air France
Ryanair
easyJet
British Airways

Airline Operations Update – Air France
From 1st to 16th August, Air France operated 11,655 flights. At the same time, Air France had to cancel 44 of its flights while operating with an average on-time performance of 90.3%.
Flight Volume
Looking at the number of flights, a clear pattern can be identified with lower volumes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and increasing traffic towards the weekend. However, the number of flights on the respective weekdays seems to be very stable. Accordingly, this means Air France is adding additional flights at the moment.

Punctuality & Cancellations
In terms of cancellations, Air France had a bumpy start in August, resulting in a high of eight cancellations on 8th August. However, Air France has reduced the number of cancellations and operates on a stable low level since then. Punctuality-wise, Air France maintained a sound level of 90%.


Air France – Annual Airline Operations Analysis
To provide context to the above airline analysis, we’ve added an overview of Air France’s operational performance from February to July 2021.



Air France – Operations Assessment & Forecast
Since half of August is over, the below figures gain an increasing relevance and accuracy:
- On-time performance: Air France continues to deliver its flight program at a much better punctuality level compated to the previous months. Currently, August OTP is more than 10pp above the annual average.
- Flight cancellations: Similar to its on-time performance, Air France has operated at a much lower cancellation rate (0.4%) in August compared to the annual average.
- Flight Volume Forecast: Based on the current data, we forecast a flight volume of 22,000 flights in August. If this turns out, Air France will have to report a flight volume reduction for the first time since May.




Airline Operations Update – Ryanair
From 1st to 16th August, Ryanair operated a total of 36,500 flights. At the same time, the airline had to cancel 14 of its flights while operating with an average on-time performance of 91.7%. So far, an impressive performance of Ryanair in August!
Flight Volume
So far, Ryanair has been operating in a corridor between 2,000 and 2,500 flights in August. On top of that, and hard to identify in the graphic, Ryanair has been slowly adding more flights every week.

Punctuality & Cancellations
Although Ryanair started with a high number of cancellations in August, the carrier has managed to operate a minimum cancellation level since then. In terms of punctuality, Ryanair operated in a corridor between 88% and 93%.


Ryanair – Annual Airline Operations Analysis
To provide context to the above airline analysis, we’ve added an overview of Ryanair’s operational performance from February to July 2021.



Ryanair – Operations Assessment & Forecast
Here are the three most important results of our Ryanair airline analysis:
- On-time performance: Although Ryanair had a weak start, the airline managed to improve in terms of OTP. As a results, Ryanair has operated above its annual average so far.
- Flight cancellations: Ryanair operates with a minimum level of flight cancellations. In August the average cancellation rate has been 0.0% — 0.5pp below Ryanair’s annual average.
- Flight Volume Forecast: Since our last airline operations analysis that included Ryanair, we had to raise the monthly volume forecast once again. Currently, we estimate a flight volume of 71,000 flights in August — 50,000 more than the annual average and 10,000 more compared to July!



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Airline Operations Update – easyJet
From 1st to 16th August, Finnair operated a total of 18,550 flights. At the same time, the airline had to cancel eleven flights while operating with an average and fantastic on-time performance of 89.8%
Flight Volume
In August, easyJet has operated in a corridor of 1,000 and 1,300 daily flights. Similar to Ryanair, easyJet has constantly added a few more flights throughout the last weeks.

Punctuality & Cancellations
easyJet had a weak start in terms of cancellations and kicked off the month with seven canceled flights. However, easyJet operated at a shallow level afterward and had to cancel only a few flights on 13th, 14th, and 15th August. From a punctuality point-of-view, easyJet slightly struggled from 4th to 10th August. Nevertheless, overall, easyJet operated on a solid punctuality level.


easyJet – Annual Airline Operations Analysis
To provide context to the above airline analysis, we’ve added an overview of easyJet’s operational performance from February to July 2021.



easyJet – Operations Assessment & Forecast
Here are the three most important results of our easyJet airline analysis:
- On-time performance: So far, easyJet has operated according to its annual average in terms of punctuality. Up to now, easyJet is 0.1pp up in August.
- Flight cancellations: In August, easyJet has been able to further reduce its number of cancellations — despite an increasing flight volume.
- Flight Volume Forecast: Our current prognosis forecasts a monthly flight volume of 36,000 for August. Compared to the monthly average and last month’s performance, easyJet would skyrocket its flight volume once again.




Airline Operations Update – British Airways
Finally, let’s have a look at U.K’s flag carrier, British Airways. From 1st to 16th August, British Airways operated a total of 5,527 flights. At the same time, the airline had to cancel 38 flights while operating with an average and fantastic on-time performance of 94.6%
Flight Volume
British Airways continue to operate at a deficient flight volume level. Moreover, the carrier has slightly decreased its volume since the beginning of the month.

Punctuality & Cancellations
Although British Airways operated fewer flights than Ryanair or easyJet, the carrier had to cancel more flights. However, British Airways delivers a solid job and constantly operates above 90% in terms of punctuality.


British Airways – Annual Airline Operations Analysis
To provide context to the above airline analysis, we’ve added an overview of British Airway’s operational performance from February to June 2021.



British Airways – Operations Assessment & Forecast
Here are the three most important results of our Ryanair airline analysis:
- On-time performance: Compared to the last months and the annual average, British Airways has massively improved its on-time performance. Currently the carrier has operated 7.4pp above the annual average.
- Flight cancellations: Similar to OTP and despite the high number of cancellations, British Airways is doing much better than on average this year.
- Flight Volume Forecast: Our current prognosis forecasts a monthly flight volume of 10,000 for August. Compared to July, this would results in a moderate increase of 20%.



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