Airlines 1st Quarter On-Time Performance Best Since 2003
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a report showing that the U.S. airlines' on-time performance during the first quarter of 2009 was the best for that period since 2003.
According to the report, the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance had an overall rate of 79.2%, up from 70.9% a year ago. March's rate was 78.4%, up from 71.6% a year ago but down from 82.6% in February. Still, March's figure was above the month's average of 77.1% for the past 14 years.
SkyWest Inc.'s Atlantic Southeast Airline, a Delta Airlines commuter partner, had the worst on-time performance for the quarter at 79.2%, and the worst in March, at 78.4%. Hawaiian Airlines again had the best performance in both periods, at 91.2% and 91.5%, respectively.
A flight is counted as "on time" if it operated less than 15 minutes after the scheduled time shown in the carriers' computerized reservation systems.
Of the 31 biggest airports, Salt Lake City had the best on-time arrival and departure performance in both the month and quarter, with Newark, N.J., again having the worst figures.