Aug 4, 2009 2:59 pm US/Central
AA #2 For Worst June Airline On-Time Performance
SAMANTHA BOMKAMP, AP Transportation Writer
NEW YORK (AP) ―
In June, airlines across the U.S. turned in their worst on-time performance since December, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.
The airlines had a combined on-time arrival rate of 76.1 percent compared with 80.5 percent in May. But the carriers had fewer delayed flights this June than in the same month a year ago. The on-time rate in December was 65.3 percent.
The most frequent reasons for flight delays included airport congestion, equipment problems and weather.
June was a bad month for severe weather across the nation. The National Weather Service recorded more than 6,400 incidents involving hail and high winds, almost twice the number reported in May.
Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance in June, while Comair — a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines Inc. — had the worst.
Among legacy carriers, Houston-based Continental Airlines Inc. reported the fewest delays, and Fort Worth-based American Airlines posted the
worst on-time performance.
Legacy carriers are those airlines that had a large presence in a number of regions before the industry was deregulated in 1978.
19 Airlines report monthly on-time data and the causes of delays and cancellations for nonstop flights to the Department of Transportation in broad categories — such as "Extreme Weather" and "National Aviation System Delay" — that were created by the airlines, industry groups, travel agents and government officials.
Delays had eased in recent months as carriers reduced flights and flew smaller planes because of fewer passengers.
A flight is considered on-time if it arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time shown in the carriers' computerized reservations systems. Canceled and diverted flights are counted as late.
Reports of mishandled baggage fell 20 percent in June from a year ago, DOT said, but there were more complaints in June than in May. AirTran had the fewest complaints, while Fort Worth-based American Eagle Airlines — a regional affiliate of American Airlines — had the most.
DOT said overall complaints were also down from a year ago. Passengers complained most about cancellations, delays and missed connections.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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