On-time performance of US-based airlines drops in June 2009 compared to May 2009

The on-time and baggage-handling performance of airlines based in the United States improved in June 2009 compared to June 2008, but got worse when compared to May 2009. According to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), the 19 big-time airlines which report monthly on-time data also went through more delayed flights in June 2009 compared to June 2008.

These 19 airlines achieved an overall on-time arrival rate of 76.1% in June 2009 – up from the 70.8% on-time rate of June 2008, but down from the on-time arrival rate of 80.5% in May 2009.

The monthly report by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics also contains the following: Information on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations, causes of flight delays, data on airline bumping, and details of mishandled baggage filed with the airlines.

Other data includes information on consumer service, as well as complaints on disability and discrimination received by the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the department of Transportation.

Also included in the report are incidents involving pets, as required to be filed by the United States-based airlines.

In June 2009, the US-based airlines cancelled 1.5% of their scheduled domestic flights – which is lower than the 1.8% cancelled flights in June 2008, but higher than the 0.9% cancelled flights in May 2009.

The report says that .0499% of scheduled flights reported tarmac delays of 3 hours or more in June 2009 – up from the .0064% tarmac delays in May 2009. In all, there were 42 flights with tarmac delays of 4 hours or more in June 2009.

Once again, Hawaiian Airlines registered the best on-time performance, with a rate of 93% in June 2009.

The regional carrier Comair, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, posted the worst on-time performance, with 60%.

American Airlines, owned by AMR Corporation, came second in worst on-time performance, with a rate of 69%, followed by JetBlue Airways (71%).

In June 2009, the most frequently delayed trip was Pinnacle Airlines’ Flight 2330 from Minneapolis (Minnesota) to Fort Wayne (Indiana) – with the flight being late all of the time.

(It may be noted Pinnacle Airlines is the only one of the 19 airlines not required to file monthly data. However, Pinnacle Airlines files data voluntarily.)

According to the Department of Transportation, the most frequent causes for flight delays are airport congestion, weather, and problems with equipment.

The carriers report the causes of delays in broad categories, like ‘Extreme Weather’ and ‘National Aviation System Delay.’

The rate of mishandled baggage was 4.17 per 1,000 passengers in June 2009 – down from 5.15 per 1,000 passengers in June 2008, but up from 3.56 per 1,000 passengers in May 2009.

Regarding mishandled baggage, the US Department of Transportation received 747 complaints in June 2009, compared to 883 complaints in June 2008, and 656 complaints in May 2009.