Polar vortex plays havoc on airline service in January

January’s harsh winter storms played havoc with the nation’s airline service, dropping the average on-time performance to the lowest in five years.

The average on-time performance in January dropped to 67.7%, down from 68.9% from December 2013 and down from 81% in January 2013, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The on-time performance reported Tuesday means that January had the lowest rate for any month in five years and the third lowest rate for any January in the last 20 years, the agency said.

The storms that ripped through the Midwest and East Coast in January were to blame for 18 domestic flights that were delayed on airport tarmacs for more than three hours and three international flights that were delayed more than four hours, the bureau reported.

The Department of Transportation is investigating whether to fine the airlines that kept the delayed flights on the tarmac without allowing the passengers to return to the terminal, as required by federal rules.

As expected, the number of complaints filed against the airlines jumped 25% compared to the previous January and up 54% compared to the previous December.

The reports of bags that were lost, delayed or damaged also rose. In January 2013, an average of 3.41 bags were mishandled for every 1,000 passengers that flew, compared to 5.54 bags for every 1,000 passengers in January 2014, according to the bureau.

ALSO:

SeaWorld reports record revenue despite ‘Blackfish’ backlash

Airlines fill planes to record capacity as demand continues to grow

United Airlines says carry-on bag crackdown is response to flier complaints