Airlines post record on-time performance

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With airlines offering fewer flights amid slow travel demand, a fringe benefit for passengers is better on-time performance.

In November, the U.S. airline industry had its best on-time performance in nearly 15 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. With 88.6 percent of flights arriving on time in the month, the performance beat the last high of 88 percent in September 2002.

No flights fell under the chronically delayed category of being late 80 percent of the time or more in the month, and no flights had tarmac delays longer than four hours. Two Delta flights had tarmac delays more than three hours long.

The improvements come as airlines have cut back on capacity and fewer people book trips by air.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines cut flight capacity 6.4 percent in 2009 and passenger counts fell by 6.2 percent. AirTran Airways, which has its largest hub in Atlanta, cut flight capacity 2.2 percent in 2009 and had a 2.5 percent drop in passenger counts.

Delta was 13th among 20 airlines ranked in on-time performance in November, while AirTran was 18th.

Airlines also had their best monthly baggage handling performance in November, with a record low rate of 2.78 reports of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. That improvement also comes as airlines’ baggage fees motivate many travelers to avoid checking bags.

It’s unclear how long the high on-time rates will last. Yet to be seen is the impact of the heightened security after the attempted terrorist attack on a Northwest flight Christmas Day, and the effects of recent storms.

Airline delays are heavily dependent on weather and air traffic control backups.

Among 31 major airports ranked for on-time performance, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport came in at 30th in November and No. 29 for the year through November. Salt Lake City had the best airline on-time performance.