Long-haul flights can cut cost, but there's a good chance they'll run late

Discounters find it tougher to cope when things go wrong: OAG

Discount carriers Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA and AirAsia Xmay fly you between continents for significantly less than many other operators, but there’s also a good chance you’ll arrive late.

The Malaysian airline and the U.K. arm of Norwegian, global trailblazers in low-cost long-haul travel, were among the worst six performers last year for arrivals 15 minutes beyond the advertised time, according to information provided to Bloomberg by flight-scheduling specialist OAG.

The rankings show the challenges in applying the no-frills model that has thrived on short-haul routes to the more complex inter-continental market. Discount specialists lack the mammoth hubs of their full-service rivals,