Airlines’ Performance Improves in January

On-time performance by the nation’s major airlines improved slightly during January, but three out of every 10 flights still were at least 15 minutes late, the Transportation Department said Wednesday.

Southwest Airlines, which consistently has been among the best on-time performers, had the best record in January with 85% of its flights arriving on time. Eastern Airlines had the worst mark with a 61.5% on-time arrival record.

Overall the 14 airlines that are monitored in the monthly report had 69.2% of their flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule, compared to 66.4% in December.

During January, there were 148 chronically late flights, which are flights that are late at least 80% of the time. Four of those flights--two for Continental Airlines and one each for Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines--were late each time the planes flew.

Meanwhile, consumer complaints to the Transportation Department dropped sharply in February, compared to the previous month, but still were higher than the number recorded in February, 1987, the department said.

Continental Leads List

The complaint statistics are released with the on-time performance statistics, although they cover different months.

There were 2,235 complaints received by the department’s consumer affairs office about airline service during February, compared to 3,610 in January, a decline of 38%. The department received 1,574 such complaints in February, 1987.

The three airlines that had the most complaints lodged against them in the two previous months--Continental, Eastern and Northwest--led the list again in February, according to the department.

There were 14.79 complaints per 100,000 passengers involving Continental, 11.3 complaints involving Eastern and 10.64 complaints involving Northwest, the deparment said.

After Southwest, the airlines with the best on-time performance in January were America West, which also was No. 2 in December, and Pacific Southwest Airlines, which soared from last among the 14 airlines in December to having the third best record in January.

Worst On-Time Record

America West had 83.9% of its flights arrive on time in January while Pacific Southwest improved its record from 57.6% in December to 81.6% in January. American Airlines (75.7%) had the best record among the larger carriers, but Pan American World Airways dropped from having the second best record in December to seventh in January.

The airlines with the worst January record were Eastern, 61.5% on-time arrivals; Northwest, 61.6%, and Piedmont, 62.4%.

The best arrival rate among the 27 airports from which reporting is required came at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport and the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport with just over 78% of the flights arriving on time. The worst arrival rate, 59.1%, was reported at Orlando International Airport in Florida.

The on-time statistics reflect all flight delays except those attributed to mechanical problems with an aircraft and include delays caused by weather problems.

During January, the number of baggage complaints received by the airlines remained virtually the same as the previous month with 11.58 complaints per 1,000 passengers flown. Piedmont Airlines had just over 18 such complaints, the most of any of the airlines, while Southwest had the least at 4.65.

PERFORMANCE BY CARRIER

Overall percentage of flights arriving on time during January.

Airline Pct. on time Southwest 85.0% America West 83.9% Pacific Southwest 81.6% Alaska 76.4% American 75.7% USAir 73.2% Pan American 72.6% United 69.8% Delta 65.6% TWA 65.5% Continental 64.8% Piedmont 62.4% Northwest 61.6% Eastern 61.5%