Continental Seeks Filing of Reports on Service

Continental Airlines, which in the first three months of this year topped all other airlines in the number of consumer complaints against it, asked Monday that all airlines be required to routinely report their on-time performance statistics, the number of bags they had mishandled and other information concerning service.

Thomas G. Plaskett, Continental president, told a news conference here that a filing asking for such a requirement had been made with the Transportation Department.

“In today’s airline marketplace, it is difficult for consumers to make an enlightened decision. The relevant information simply is not available,” he said.

Plaskett noted that such filings were required of the carriers before the industry was deregulated in 1978.

The Transportation Department had no immediate comment on the filing.

Several members of Congress have bills pending that would require similar reporting.

But while some other carriers say they are still studying the Continental proposal, others expressed concern.

“This is another step towards re-regulation,” said William D. Berry, a Delta Air Lines spokesman. “We were very much against deregulation but now we feel that even a little government incursion might lead to total re-regulation. We feel this way even though Delta would benefit by having such data made public. We have had the best on-time record in the industry for the last 13 years.”

Continental’s Plaskett said complaints against it were made by angry travelers and don’t reflect actual service pattern.

The department said that in the third quarter of last year, Continental had the worst record of 22 national air carriers. In all 12 categories tracked by the department, Continental’s complaints jumped from 149 in January to 373 in February and 717 in March.

Plaskett said Continental’s baggage handling, on-time performance and other service had greatly improved this month.

Separately, both Continental and Eastern Airlines, also owned by Texas Air Corp., said they will continue their deep discount “MaxSaver” fares through the summer. They had been scheduled to end May 21.

Most other carriers said they were studying the move.