September 14, 2010
The nation's largest airlines reported only three flights in July with tarmac delays of more than three hours, versus 161 flights in July 2009. And, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), there was only a slight increase in the rate of canceled flights.
Data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) show the only tarmac delays longer than three hours reported in July by the 18 airlines that file on-time performance with DOT involved three American Eagle Airlines flights departing Chicago's O'Hare airport on July 23. On that day, the Chicago area experienced a severe thunderstorm and a number of aircraft were caught on the runway.
July was the third full month of data since the new aviation consumer rule took effect on April 29. There were only four tarmac delays of more than three hours in May and June 2010 combined, compared with 302 during the same two-month period a year earlier.
The largest carriers canceled 1.4 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in July. The rate was 1.2 percent in July 2009. They posted a 1.5 percent cancellation rate in June 2010.
New delay rule
The new tarmac delay rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning passengers. Exceptions are allowed only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations. The Department will investigate tarmac delays that exceed the limit.
The monthly report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers. In addition, it has information on airline bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. The report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.
On-time performance
The reporting carriers recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 76.7 percent in July, worse than the 77.6 percent on-time rate of July 2009, but better than June 2010's 76.4 percent.
Tarmac delays
In July, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that .1030 percent of their scheduled flights had tarmac delays of two hours or more, versus .0840 percent in June. There were three flights with tarmac delays of more than three hours in July.
Chronically delayed flights
At the end of July, there were six flights that were chronically delayed -- more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time -- for three consecutive months. There were an additional 53 flights that were chronically delayed for two consecutive months. There were no chronically delayed flights for four consecutive months or more.
Causes of flight delays
In July, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 6.21 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared with 6.56 percent in June; 8.13 percent by late-arriving aircraft, versus 8.12 percent in June; 6.37 percent by factors within the airline's control, such as maintenance or crew problems, as opposed to 6.29 percent in June; 0.79 percent by extreme weather, compared with 0.74 percent in June; and 0.05 percent for security reasons, versus 0.04 percent in June.
Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.
Data collected by BTS also show the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In July, 37.61 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 4.59 percent from July 2009 and down 6.98 percent from June.
Mishandled baggage
The U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.79 reports per 1,000 passengers in July, an improvement over July 2009's rate of 4.06, but worse than June 2010's 3.72 rate.
Incidents involving pets
In July, carriers reported eight incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air. There were six incidents reported in both July 2009 and June 2010. July's incidents involved five deaths, one injury, and two lost pets.
Complaints about airline service
In July, DOT received 1,094 complaints from consumers about airline service, up 32.3 percent from the 827 complaints filed in July 2009, but down 22.9 percent from the 1,419 complaints received in June 2010.
Complaints about treatment of disabled passengers
The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in July against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The Department received a total of 56 disability-related complaints in July versus 54 complaints filed in July 2009 and 60 in June 2010.
Complaints about discrimination
In July, the Department received 12 complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability such as race, religion, national origin or sex. There were 17 in July 2009 and 22 in June 2010.
Highest on-time arrival rates
• 1. Hawaiian Airlines - 94.7 percent
• 2. Alaska Airlines - 88.7 percent
• 3. United Airlines - 83.0 percent
Lowest on-time arrival rates
• 1. ExpressJet Airlines -- 68.6 percent
• 2. Comair -- 69.1 percent
• 3. Delta Air Lines -- 69.9 percent
Flights with longest tarmac delays
• 1. American Eagle flight 4120 from Chicago O'Hare to Knoxville, TN, 7/23/10 -- delayed on tarmac 214 minutes
• 2. American Eagle flight 4241 from Chicago O'Hare to Raleigh/Durham, NC, 7/23/10 -- delayed on tarmac 199 minutes
• 3. American Eagle flight 4196 from Chicago O'Hare to Baltimore/Washington International Airport -- delayed on tarmac 198 minutes
Highest rates of canceled flights
• 1. Comair -- 3.7 percent
• 2. Pinnacle Airlines -- 2.9 percent
• 3. Delta Air lines -- 2.7 percent
Lowest rates of canceled flights
• 1. Hawaiian Airlines -- 0.0 percent*
• 2. Continental Airlines -- 0.2 percent
• 3. Alaska Airlines -- 0.4 percent
*Hawaiian canceled two flights in July
