Flight Delay Detailing Proposed

Regulations proposed Thursday would require the nation’s largest airlines to tell the Transportation Department why their flights were late.

The airlines already track the flights that arrive at least 15 minutes behind schedule and report that information to the department. The proposed regulations also would require the airlines to disclose why the flights were delayed.

Airlines are flying fewer flights since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but more of them are arriving on time.

The agency reported that 84.8% of airline flights arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time in October, the highest percentage since September 1997, when planes had an 85% on-time record.

“On-time performance has improved in 2001, but the operators of the nation’s aviation system must have information on the actual causes of delays and cancellations to reduce the problem in coming years when air traffic is likely to resume its rapid growth,” said Ashish Sen, the director of the agency’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The agency is seeking comments on the proposal for 60 days.

Under the plan, delays would fall into three categories: airline problems, such as cleaning, damage, or waiting for connecting passengers or crew; weather; and operational delays, such as airline security, too many flights trying to land at the same time or air traffic control problems.

The nation’s 11 biggest airlines would be required to supply the information. Smaller airlines, which do not have to report flight delays to the agency, would be exempt from the proposed rules.