On Time Performance

U.S. airlines' on-time performance declined dramatically in December compared with the previous month, but improved slightly over a year earlier, the Transportation Department said. The carriers blamed heavy snowstorms around the Christmas holiday and aviation system issues for contributing to some delays. The 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 65.3%, up from 64.3% a year earlier but down from 83.3% in November. Regional carrier Comair, a unit of Delta Air Lines Inc., had the worst on-time performance in December, while Hawaiian Airlines had the best.

U.S. airlines' on-time performance and baggage handling improved in September, though the carriers overall posted a higher rate of domestic cancellations compared with the same month last year, the Transportation Department said. Delta Air Lines Inc.'s regional subsidiary, Comair, had the worst on-time performance in September, and Hawaiian Airlines had the best.

Delta Air Lines' regional subsidiary Comair had the worst on-time performance in July among airlines surveyed by the Transportation Department. Carriers recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 75.7% in July, higher than July 2007's 69.8% and June 2008's 70.8%. The carriers canceled 1.7% of their scheduled domestic flights in July, lower than the 2.1% cancellation rate of July 2007 and the 1.8% rate posted in June.

Waiting for the bus at Normandie and Slauson avenues late one night, Betrona Casileo was getting nervous. Thirty minutes. Forty minutes. Still no bus. "At night, it's very dangerous," said Casileo, who is 52 and has been riding Metro buses for 15 years. "I was just hoping the bus would come." It did -- eventually. Casileo isn't the only frustrated passenger.

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. shares fell after the carrier disclosed that Delta Air Lines Inc. planned to cancel its flying contract with the regional carrier because of persistent late arrivals. Pinnacle called the move against it by Delta "wrongful," saying its on-time performance had been hurt by factors beyond its control. Pinnacle, based in Memphis, Tenn., said it planned to pursue "appropriate remedies," though it wasn't more specific. The move by Delta would affect nearly 5% of the fleet maintained by Pinnacle, which operates the Pinnacle airline and Colgan Air.

Major airlines were behind schedule more often from January through July this year than they were in the same period last year. The Transportation Department said the on-time arrival rate dropped to 78% from 82% a year earlier. "On time" is defined as within 15 minutes of schedule. The Federal Aviation Administration aims for an 82% on-time rate throughout the commercial aviation system.

Regarding "An Open and Shut Suitcase? Hardly" (Travel Q&A, June 27): A $24.48 luggage repair claim? A missing zipper tab? Does life owe you a favor or what? These are normal problems in the life of a traveler, and someone has to pay. Accept the small price for getting out there and living a full life. It's a very small price to accept for the high level of security we've demanded and are getting. Transportation Security Administration workers are capable of handling the highest pressures and on-time performance.

On-time performance by major U.S. airlines continues to slide, with delays creeping back at several big airports despite fewer passengers, industry and government figures showed. The 19 carriers reporting to the government recorded an overall on-time rating of 75% in January. This compares with 76% for 18 carriers in December and 83% for 17 airlines in January 2003, the Transportation Department said.

I wanted to shed additional light on the findings noted in "In an Era of Turbulence, Airline Satisfaction Rising" (Travel Insider, July 21). Despite the decline in passenger traffic and reductions in flight schedules after Sept. 11, the customer service initiatives announced by our member airlines in June 1999 are achieving results. Throughout 2001--even before the events of Sept. 11--our members were making significant improvements in every performance category, a trend that is continuing this year.