Airline On-Time Performance
A lower rate of on-time flights
Cancellations and Mishandled Bags Up in June The national´s largest airlines recorded a lower rate of on-time flights and a higher rate of mishandled baggage and canceled flights this past June than during either this past May or the previous June, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The report also shows that consumer complaints against air carriers rose in June compared to the same previous months. According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the 20 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 68.1 percent in June, down from both June 2006´s 72.8 percent and May 2007´s 77.9 percent. The data also show that these carriers canceled 2.7 percent of their domestic scheduled flights in June, up from both June 2006´s cancellation rate of 1.7 percent and May 2007´s 1.1 percent. The 20 reporting carriers also posted a mishandled baggage rate of 7.92 reports per 1,000 passengers in June, higher than both June 2006´s 6.30 rate and May 2007´s 5.93 mark. In addition, the Department received 1,094 complaints from consumers in June about airline service, up 43.4 percent from the 763 complaints received in June 2006 and 17.8 percent more than the total of 929 filed in May 2007. The monthly report also includes data on causes of flight delays, airline bumping, and consumer disability and discrimination complaints received by the aviation agency.