US-based airlines improve on-time arrivals in August 2009

Airlines based in the United States improved their on-time performance, once again, in August 2009, compared to both July 2009 and August 2008.

According to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), the monthly report filed by 19 US-based carriers showed an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.7% in August 2009 – up from the 77.6% on-time rate in July 2009, and 78.4% in August 2008.

Of the 19 carriers that report monthly their on-time data and causes of delays to the Department of Transportation, Southwest Airlines was the most punctual among the large airlines, achieving an on-time arrival rate of 82.8%.

US Airways, United Airlines and Continental Airlines came above the monthly average of 79.7 %.

Northwest Airlines, which is now a part of Delta Air Lines, and AirTran Airways recorded the lowest on-time performance among the big airlines – almost 74%.

Airlines say that the longest delays occurred when one late plane caused the next flight on the same plane to be late. Another reason for delays, according to the airlines, is the problems pertaining to the ‘national aviation system’ like air traffic control, heavy traffic, and airport operations.

The delays come under the categories ‘National Aviation System Delay’ and ‘Extreme Weather’ which were formulated by the airlines, government officials, travel agents, and the aviation industry groups.

A flight is considered by the government as ‘on-time’ if it arrives within 15 minutes of schedule. Cancelled flights and diverted flights are counted ‘late.’

Of all the 19 airlines reporting to the Department of Transportation, Hawaiian Airlines topped the list overall, with 94.7% of its flights arriving on-time.

Comair, the regional airline operator of Delta Air Lines, was the lowest on the list – with 65.9% on-time arrival. The carrier also was the worst in the rate of cancelled flights, at 4.3%.

Of all the 19 airlines, Continental Airlines was the best regarding cancelled flights – with a mere 0.2% of its flights cancelled.

Reports of mishandled baggage dropped to 4.04 per 1,000 passengers in August 2009 – down from 4.98 per 1,000 passengers in August 2008.

According to data given out by the airlines, less people are flying in 2009 than in 2008. And, the people who do fly are checking fewer bags owing to the fees on checked luggage.

With regard to baggage performance in August 2009, AirTran Airways was the best of all the 19 carriers, with 1.74 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. In this department, too, Comair performed the worst – with 8.2 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

Among the bigger airlines, Delta Air Lines ranked the lowest concerning baggage handling, with 5.02 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

As for tarmac delays, .012% of the scheduled flights of the 19 reporting airlines suffered tarmac delays of 3 hours or more in August 2009, which is down from .028% in July 2009. In August 2009, 6 flights had to go through tarmac delays lasting 4 hours or more.

In August 2009, 39.27% of flights delays were caused by weather – down by 0.38% from July 2009 (39.42%) and down by 0.23% from August 2008 (39.36 %)