Airlines’ on-time performance better in September
For the past few months we’ve been chronicling many airlines’ comparatively poor on-time performance. Now, with September’s cooler weather, comes a decidedly better record.
FlightStats says, “Cancellations were down measurably for the month [of September].” In the year’s ninth year, airlines cancelled 1.25 percent of the nation’s total scheduled flights. FlightStats says, “This compares quite favorably to August when Hurricane Irene helped drive cancellations [of] nearly [three] percent.”
September’s on-time performance soared. FlightStats reports 79.47 percent of last month’s flights arrived on time. Consider, the figure was 75.09 percent in August, 76.09 percent in July, and 75.63 percent during June.
The nation’s top on-time carriers were Hawaiian (94.64 percent), Horizon (92.4 percent), Alaska (91.16 percent), Compass (90.12 percent), and discount airline AirTran (89.6 percent). A Cheapflight’s observation: AirTran’s numbers are especially noteworthy. That’s because the carrier’s prime hubs are in the East. Hawaiian, Horizon and Alaska concentrate their operations out West.
Indeed, three of the nation’s Top Five on-time airports were in the West: Salt Lake City (92.1 percent), Seattle/Tacoma (90.84 percent) and Portland, Ore. (90.79 percent). Minneapolis/Saint Paul (90.17 percent) and Memphis (86.66 percent) filled out the top five.
The U.S. airports with the worst on-time records? New York LaGuardia (70.15 percent), Chicago O’Hare (69.15 percent), New York Kennedy (68.66 percent), Dallas/Fort Worth (62.05 percent), and Miami International (59.06 percent).
Flying abroad? You might want to consider connecting via one of these airports. Tokyo Haneda racked up an impressive 92.74 percent on-time record in September. 88.71 percent of Bangkok’s flights departed on time. Another Asian hub, Kuala Lumpur, did just fine. 86.38 percent of its flights got away from the gate on time. Even Tokyo Narita fared comparatively well. 84.52 percent of NRT’s flights pushed back on time. No European airports were among FlightStats’ Top Ten performers.
What’s your favorite (and least favorite) airport when it comes to punctuality? Let us know.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Dylan Ashe)
No comments yet.