Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) has once again achieved a major milestone, earning the distinction of being the world’s most punctual airport in June 2025 with an impressive on-time performance rate of 90.41%. This recognition was announced by Cirium, a global leader in aviation analytics, reinforcing KKIA’s reputation for operational excellence and reliability on the international stage.

Third Top Ranking in 2025

This marks the third time in 2025 that KKIA has secured the number one global ranking for punctuality, having previously attained this accolade in March and April. Such consistency underlines KKIA's commitment to maintaining world-class standards in flight operations and passenger experience.

Cirium Report and Methodology

Cirium compiles its punctuality rankings through a comprehensive analysis of data from airlines, air traffic control systems, and airport feeds across the globe. The rankings reflect the proportion of flights departing or arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled times—a widely accepted industry standard. This robust methodology guarantees transparency and accuracy, providing a valuable benchmark for industry stakeholders and travelers alike.

Saudi Vision 2030 and Aviation Strategy

KKIA’s consistent top performance aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious strategy to transform its aviation sector and cement Riyadh as a top-tier logistics and travel hub. Ongoing investments in new infrastructure, enhancements in efficiency, and elevated customer service standards have all contributed to this achievement.

Additional 2025 Milestones and Recognitions

• Skytrax 2025 Awards: KKIA climbed to 24th place globally in the Skytrax World Airport Awards, an 11-position improvement, becoming the highest-ranking Saudi airport ever. The airport also received honors for “Best Airport Staff in the Middle East,” third globally for the “Best New Terminal,” and fourth for airports in the 30–40 million passengers category.

• Environmental Leadership: Earlier in 2025, KKIA became the first airport in Saudi Arabia to reach Level 4 Transformation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, marking a significant step toward sustainability and a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 205010.

• Expanding Connectivity: 2025 saw the launch of direct flights from Virgin Atlantic and US-Bangla Airlines, strengthening air links between Riyadh and key international destinations such as Toronto and Dhaka, further cementing KKIA's role as a global gateway.

• Domestic Excellence: KKIA maintained top rankings within Saudi Arabia for passenger traffic and flight punctuality, driven by ongoing modernization and expanded passenger services.

Saudi Airlines Also Excel

In June 2025, Saudia was named the world’s most punctual airline, with a 91.33% on-time arrival rate and a 90.69% on-time departure rate, according to Cirium. Saudia’s low-cost carrier, flyadeal, led the Middle East and Africa with a 91.77% punctuality rate, adding further prestige to Saudi Arabia’s aviation achievements.

Emirates Flight Catering has embarked on a landmark expansion with the ground-breaking of a new Dh160 million laundry facility under its Linencraft brand at Dubai Investment Park, creating 400 direct jobs and boosting its operational capacity by over 50 percent. This strategic investment addresses the surging demand in the UAE’s hospitality, aviation, and healthcare sectors amid rapid sector growth and infrastructure developments.

The new facility will add 150 tons daily to Linencraft’s current processing ability of 280 tons across four locations. It features two advanced modular hospitality bulk laundry units with a combined capacity of 142 tons per day, plus a dedicated garment plant that can handle over 28,000 pieces daily. This high-tech setup incorporates next-generation automation to enhance efficiency, reduce manual labor, and ensure resilience with built-in redundancies to maintain uninterrupted operations even at peak times.

 Energy-efficient systems are integrated to minimize environmental impact, reflecting a sharp focus on sustainability.

Shahreyar Nawabi, CEO of Emirates Flight Catering, emphasized the boldness of this move, stating, “This investment reflects both the scale of opportunity we see in the market and our determination to lead the industry forward. With this advanced facility, we’re not just increasing capacity we’re setting new standards through smart technology and sustainability.” The expansion is timely, as more than 10,000 new hotel rooms are expected in the UAE by 2027 alongside the upcoming major international events and Dubai Airport’s ongoing expansions, all driving a steep rise in demand for large-scale laundry services including staff uniforms and institutional laundry needs.

Linencraft currently serves over 100 clients across airlines, hospitality, healthcare, and corporate sectors, employing around 1,300 people. The new facility solidifies its position as the UAE’s largest and most trusted commercial laundry provider, capable of onboarding 40 additional hospitality clients with this capacity boost.
The project is led by UAE-based general contractor ASIA Prime, which is committed to delivering quality and operational excellence throughout the construction process.

This expansion complements broader Emirates Group initiatives, which recently unveiled a global talent drive to recruit 17,300 employees across Emirates and dnata, further underscoring the Group’s growth and commitment to meeting future demand in aviation and related services.

By scaling up climate-conscious operations and leveraging smart technologies, Emirates Flight Catering’s new Linencraft facility is poised to support the country’s booming service industries with efficiency, reliability, and sustainability well into the future.

IndiGo Airlines, India’s largest low-cost carrier, has aggressively expanded its cockpit workforce by recruiting over 1,000 pilots in the past two years, bringing its total pilot strength to 5,456 by the end of FY25. This milestone surpasses the combined pilot count of Air India and Air India Express, which stands at 5,449, underscoring IndiGo’s dominant position in the Indian aviation sector.

This rapid increase in pilot numbers coincides with IndiGo’s substantial fleet growth, currently operating 434 aircraft, with over 920 more on order, including long-range Airbus A321XLRs and A350s to support its international ambitions. The accelerated hiring is a strategic move to maintain operational reliability in the face of soaring passenger demand and an industry-wide shortage of pilots. It also differentiates IndiGo from competitors like Akasa Air, which faced pilot resignations and flight cancellations in late 2024.

India’s aviation market is witnessing unprecedented growth, with domestic air travel rising to 165 million passengers in FY25 a 17% increase over pre-pandemic levels and international travel up 49% to 34 million. Responding to this surge, IndiGo has also strengthened its cabin crew roster to over 10,212 personnel.

IndiGo is leading industry efforts in gender diversity, with women constituting 16% of its pilot workforce approximately three times the global average and aiming to reach 1,000 female pilots by 2025. The commitment to inclusivity was highlighted when the airline onboarded 77 female pilots on India’s 77th Independence Day.

Financially, IndiGo posted a profit after tax of ₹7,258 crore for FY25, marking its second consecutive year of profitability, in contrast to losses reported by other carriers such as Air India and Akasa Air.
Despite a 17% decrease in the issuance of Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) in 2024, government data indicates there is currently no shortage of trained pilots in India, though the demand forecast is significant, with an estimated need for 21,500 pilots by 2034. IndiGo’s proactive recruitment and diversity initiatives position it well to meet the challenges of India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.

On 22 July 2025, Dubai, UAE, the Emirates Group launched an extensive global talent acquisition campaign aimed at recruiting 17,300 professionals during the current financial year. This hiring goal is symbolic, matching the population size of a mid-size town or the seating capacity of 58 Airbus A350 aircraft. The recruitment drive is part of the Group’s ongoing expansion strategy, reinforcing its industry-leading position.

The available opportunities span across 350 different roles across Emirates and dnata, the two flagship businesses under the Group. Emirates, recognized as the world’s most profitable and largest international airline, along with dnata, a global leader in air and travel services, are looking to fill positions that include cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, human resources, and finance. Notably, dnata alone seeks over 4,000 specialists in cargo, catering, and ground handling operations.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, emphasized that this ambitious recruitment is aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and the Group’s growth trajectory. He expressed that the goal is to attract world-class talent capable of driving innovation, excellence, and the future transformation of the aviation industry. He views this initiative as an opportunity for skilled professionals to become integral to the Group’s ongoing success and expansion.

To reach potential candidates globally, the Emirates Group will hold over 2,100 open days and various talent acquisition events across 150 cities throughout the year. These events will provide a chance for prospective pilots, IT professionals, engineers, and cabin crew members to engage directly with recruitment teams and long-serving Emirates employees sharing their experiences. In addition to international outreach, Dubai-based events will focus on involving UAE national students and graduates, supporting national workforce development.

Since 2022, the Emirates Group has recruited more than 41,000 professionals, with nearly 27,000 in operational roles, contributing to the current workforce size of approximately 121,000 employees. The Group continues to be a magnet for talent around the world due to its strong brand reputation, people-centric policies, tax-free remuneration, comprehensive benefits, and esteemed training and career development programs.

In the past financial year alone, the Group received in excess of 3.7 million job applications, illustrating its global appeal. Candidates are drawn to Dubai not only for professional opportunities but also for the city’s safety, economic stability, advanced technological infrastructure, forward-looking policies, and vibrant lifestyle.

For those residing in Dubai and working for the Emirates Group, benefits are extensive, including eligibility for profit sharing, comprehensive medical and life insurance coverage, a wide array of travel benefits encompassing annual and service-related leave tickets, concessional rates for family and friends, discounted cargo rates, and membership privileges unlocking reductions at hundreds of retail, hospitality, and lifestyle destinations.

Candidates interested in joining the Emirates Group can explore available positions and upcoming recruitment events worldwide by visiting the Group’s official careers portal. This recruitment drive showcases the Emirates Group’s unwavering commitment to growth, innovation, and maintaining its status as a global employer of choice, while welcoming talented professionals prepared to contribute to shaping the future of aviation.