PhillyTablet Inquirer Daily News
Mobile
Home Delivery
philly.com
email
font size
comments
1
options
 
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Airline on-time record improves, PHL slips a little

Airline on-time performance in August got better compared with a year ago, but Philadelphia's record slipped a little, winding up six spots from the bottom of the list, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported today. On-time arrivals and departures at PHL has been a little better than that most of the year.

The two largest carriers at the airport ended the month in a virtual tie for on-time arrivals, with Southwest at 75.8 percent and US Airways at 75.6 percent. Continental and its ExpressJet unit had the best records, 80.6 and 80.5 percent, according to a different government measure.

US Airways noted in a message to employees that its operational performance has improved steadily this year. For the first time since US Airways merged with America West four years ago, the airline finished in the top five among the older network carriers in the Department of Transportation's measures of on-time performance, rate of mishandled bag and customer complaints. In the most pleasant surprise, givens its dismal record in the past, US Airways was No. 3 for fewest mishandled bags in August.

Find millions of stats in the DOT's monthly air travel consumer report, and for the airport rankings, see the BTS report.

The monthly report prompted the Air Transport Association, the big airlines' trade group, to point out that the number of flights that were delayed by three hours or more keeps going down. The group is very much opposed to passenger-rights legislation that would mandate what airlines have to do for customers during long delays.

Delays have been declining primarily because airlines have been flying fewer flights. Fewer bags are being lost because fees for checked bags have reduced the number being checked. I've said what I think about passenger rights legislation, but let your representatives know if you think airline customer service has improved enough that the legislation isn't needed.
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 3:26 PM  Permalink | 1 comment
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:26 AM, 10/08/2009
    PHL can't blame the weather, fewer flights should have equaled better on-time arrivals and/or departures.., so what's wrong with this picture? anyone??? Belden??? Lloyd?? anybody?>?
    — STEVE5444


1 comments
About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for more than 20 years, writing columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping to improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.
Advertise Here