Air Passenger Protests Drop in 1st Quarter, but Jets Are Later

United States airlines received fewer complaints from passengers in the first quarter of this year than in the same period of 1988, the Department of Transportation said.

The department also said, however, that airlines did not do as well in February this year as they did last year when it came to arriving on time, mainly because the weather was worse.

The department’s monthly air travel consumer report, released Wednesday, showed consumer complaints against leading airlines totaled 970 in March, down 63% from the 2,651 received in March, 1988, and 15% from the 1,138 reported in February of this year.

Complaints for the first quarter of 1989 totaled 3,207, compared to 8,633 in the first quarter of 1988.

The 13 largest domestic carriers reported that 72.4% of their flights operated on time in February, compared to 76.7% in January and 74.7% in February, 1988.

The department said the increase in delays was due largely to winter weather conditions. Delays caused by mechanical problems are not counted in compiling the data.

Mishandled baggage reports against carriers in February declined, averaging 7.36 per 1,000 passengers, compared to 7.86 in January and 8.75 in February, 1988.

ON-TIME PERFORMANCE

Airline % Eastern 80.5 Northwest 80.4 Alaska 78.2 America West 77.5 USAir 76.0 Continental 75.2 Pan American 73.7 Delta 73.4 Trans World 71.7 Southwest 71.0 Piedmont 68.8 United 65.6 American 65.4

Source: Associated Press