Short answer — for short international hops (a few hours) the low-cost carriers most consistently rated reliable in recent punctuality/reliability reports are Iberia Express, Vueling, Ryanair and (regionally) some full‑service LCCs like Jetstar / AirAsia groups. These carriers tend to have higher on‑time performance and lower cancellation rates than many other budget operators — but reliability still varies by route, airport and season. (euronews.com)

More detail and practical guidance

1. Top picks (good for short international trips)

• Iberia Express (Spain) — ranked top among low‑cost carriers for on‑time performance in 2024. Good for short Europe/Spain connections. (euronews.com)
• Vueling (Spain) — consistently strong punctuality across European short routes and performed very well in early‑2025 monthly rankings. Good if you’re flying between Spain, Europe and UK. (travelandtourworld.com)
• Ryanair (Ireland) — frequently among the most reliable LCCs on many intra‑Europe short routes (low cancellations, tight turnarounds). Service/fees and customer‑service experience vary. (blog.wego.com)
• Jetstar / AirAsia / regional LCCs — in Asia/Pacific and Southeast Asia, AirAsia group and Jetstar are often among the better performing low‑cost carriers for punctuality and network coverage (good for short regional hops). Check the specific country/route. (samchui.com)

2. Regional notes relevant to someone in/near Egypt

• For Europe/North Africa: Vueling, Iberia Express and Ryanair operate many short Europe–North Africa/Spain routes and show comparatively strong on‑time records. (euronews.com)
• For Turkey / Eastern Mediterranean: Pegasus and some Turkish short‑haul options exist, but punctuality/cancellation performance can be more variable — check recent route‑specific stats. (Route/airport matters.)
• Wizz Air and some ultra‑low‑costs have had weaker punctuality in recent reports — good fares but check recent on‑time/cancellation data for your specific flight. (blog.wego.com)

3. How to pick the most reliable low‑cost option (practical tips)

• Check recent on‑time performance for that airline on the specific route/airport (monthly reports like Cirium or punctuality trackers, plus airport statistics). Monthly performance can shift. (travelandtourworld.com)
• Prefer airlines with larger fleets and more flights on your route — more frequency usually means easier rebooking if something goes wrong.
• Fly early‑morning departures when possible (less ripple delay).
• Avoid tight same‑day connections on separate tickets with LCCs.
• Consider buying a modest flex fare or travel insurance if time‑sensitive (changes/cancellations can be handled faster with flexible tickets).
• Read recent passenger reviews for customer‑service handling of delays/cancellations — punctuality is one thing; recovery and support is another. (blog.wego.com)

4. If you want, I can:

• Check the very latest on‑time/cancellation stats for a particular route (I’ll look up Cirium/airport reports and give a head‑to‑head comparison), or
• Compare fares + likely reliability for specific dates/routes you plan to travel.

Would you like me to look up recent punctuality or cancellation stats for any specific route or date?