Airlines Improve On-Time Performance : 85.6% of Flights Meet Schedule, Best Since Reports Began in ’87
The major airlines in September did their best job of holding down flight delays and mishandled bags since they started reporting flight information 13 months ago, the Transportation Department said Thursday.
The 13 largest domestic carriers reported that 85.6% of their flights were on time in September, up from 83% in August and the best showing since the department began requiring large carriers to report the information in September, 1987.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Nov. 5, 1988 FOR THE RECORD
Los Angeles Times Saturday November 5, 1988 Southland Edition Business Part 4 Page 2 Column 5 Financial Desk 2 inches; 65 words Type of Material: Correction
A chart in Friday’s Business section misstated the on-time performance of several airlines. Here is a corrected version: PERFORMANCE BY CARRIER Overall percentage of flights arriving on time during September: Airline: Percentage America West: 92.9 Eastern: 90.5 Southwest: 89.3 Delta: 88.0 American: 87.8 Alaska: 86.9 Continental: 86.3 Piedmont: 85.3 United: 84.0 USAir: 83.7 Pan American: 83.2 TWA: 81.9 Northwest: 75.8 Source: Dept. of Transportation
The best previous month had been June, when 84.3% of flights were on time. It was the sixth month in a row that the airlines reported at least 80% of their flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule, which is considered on time by the government.
Eastern Airlines, which throughout the year has ranked in the bottom half among the airlines reporting on-time statistics, soared to No. 1 among major air carriers in September, with 90.5% of its flights on time.
America West, largely a regional carrier with its hub in Phoenix, had the overall best record, with nearly 93% of it flights on time. Another Sun Belt regional carrier, Southwest Airlines, followed Eastern, with an 89.3% arrival rate.
Northwest Airlines had the worst record for September, with 75.8% of its flights arriving on time.
Among airports, the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport had the best on-time record, with 90.8% of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule, followed by Phoenix and Las Vegas, both just over 89%.
The most arrival delays occurred at Detroit, which had a 69% on-time record, and St. Louis, with 79.6%, the department said.
Travelers filed 5.71 reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers in September, down from 7.03 reports in August. The best previous month had been May, when there were 6.16 reports per 1,000 passengers.
The department, in its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, also found a drop in the number of consumer complaints. The 1,370 complaints reported in October were 28% fewer than the 1,897 recorded in September and 62% fewer than the 3,635 registered in October, 1987.
The department noted that travelers can get information about the past on-time record of specific flights by checking with airline ticket offices or travel agents.
PERFORMANCE BY CARRIER Overall percentage of flights arriving on time during September: Airline: Percentage America West: 92.9 Eastern: 90.5 Southwest: 89.3 Delta: 88.0 American: 7.8 Alaska: 6.9 Continental: 86.3 Piedmont: 5.3 United: 4.0 USAir: 83.7 Pan American: 3.2 TWA: 81.9 Northwest: 75.8 Source: Dept. of Transportation
