LAX Is 3rd Worst for Late Arrivals, Airport Study Says

L.A. Times Archives

July 23, 2001 12 AM PT

From Staff and Wire Reports

WASHINGTON —

Three of every 10 flights into Los Angeles International Airport arrived at least 15 minutes behind schedule during the first five months of the year, government figures show.

LAX had the third worst record of late-arriving flights, 30%, among the nation’s busiest airports. San Francisco ranked sixth, with 28.8% of its flights late. San Diego ranked 10th, with 25.4%.

The figures were compiled by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at the request of the Associated Press.

Overall, more than one-quarter of flights into 11 of the nation’s busiest airports arrived behind schedule, the government analysis showed.

At the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 31.3% of flights were late from January through May, the worst on-time record, the Transportation Department said. New York’s LaGuardia Airport was just behind, at 31.1%.

Others on the list include Boston, New York Kennedy, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Newark, N.J.

“You won’t leave on time; you won’t get there on time,” said Dean Headley, associate professor of marketing at Wichita State University and co-author of an annual study of airline quality. “They confirm what consumers have already built into their own behavior.”

Officials at LAX attribute the late arrivals to delayed departures at other airports and to en-route delays caused by weather. Another reason is the time it takes to taxi to the gate once a plane lands on one of LAX’s four runways.

The LAX airfield was designed four decades ago, said Paul Haney, spokesman for Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that operates LAX. Today’s jumbo jets take more time to maneuver.

“We are working with the [Federal Aviation Administration] and airlines on long-term improvements to eliminate delays on the ground,” Haney said. “Since safety will never be compromised, arrival delays during peak hours are inevitable until needed airfield improvements can be completed.”

In Seattle, spokeswoman Terri-Ann Mohon said the problem with delays should be eliminated in 2006, when a long-sought third runway is expected to be completed.

Until then, she said, “We’re looking at another good five years of weather-related delays at the airport.” Seattle’s rain and fog often reduce visibility to the point where the airport can use only one of its two runways because they are so close.

FAA spokesman William Shumann said flight delays at LaGuardia dropped after the agency in February awarded takeoff and landing slots by lottery, reducing the number of flights.

Some airlines have acted to reduce delays by rescheduling flights away from peak times, or by rerouting some flights to avoid crowded hub airports.

Headley said the percentage of late flights is actually higher; airline schedules already are padded to cover the extra time a plane may spend on the ground waiting to take off or get to a gate.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Behind Schedule

Airports with the highest percentage of late arrivals (at least 15 minutes) during the first five months of 2001 and 2000.

Airport : Pct.

2001

Seattle: 31.3

New York LaGuardia: 31.1

Los Angeles: 30.0

Boston: 29.2

New York Kennedy: 29.1

San Francisco: 28.8

Chicago O’Hare: 27.5