Two months doesn't necessarily make it a trend, but November was the second month in a row that the nation’s largest airlines reported no flights with tarmac delays of more than three hours.
At the same time, the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) shows the carriers reported only a slight increase in the rate of canceled flights during the month.
This past October and November are the only months with no tarmac delays of more than three hours by the reporting carriers since the Department began collecting more comprehensive tarmac delay data in October 2008.
Signs of progress
Data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) show there have been only 12 total tarmac delays of more than three hours reported from May through November 2010 by the 18 airlines that file on-time performance data with DOT, compared with 550 during the same seven-month period of 2009. November was the seventh full month of data since the new aviation consumer rule went into effect on April 29, 2010.
The largest carriers canceled 0.7 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in November, versus the 0.5 percent cancellation rate of November 2009 and a 0.97 percent cancellation rate in October 2010.
The number of canceled flights with tarmac delays of more than two hours increased only slightly, from 224 between May and November 2009 to 241 between May and November 2010. There were 11 canceled flights with tarmac delays of more than two hours in November 2010; there were none in November 2009.
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.
Other performance data
The monthly report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays filed with DOT by the reporting carriers. In addition, it has information on reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air.
On-time performance
The reporting carriers recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 83.2 percent in November, compared with the 88.6 percent on-time rate of November 2009 and October 2010’s 83.8 percent.
Tarmac delays
In November, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that .0200 percent of their scheduled flights had tarmac delays of two hours or more, versus .0300 percent in October. There were no flights with tarmac delays of more than three hours in November.
Chronically delayed flights
At the end of November, there was only one flight that was chronically delayed -- more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time -- for two consecutive months. There were no flights chronically delayed for three consecutive months or more.
Causes of flight delays
The carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 5.38 percent of their flights were delayed in November by aviation system delays, compared with 4.79 percent in October; 5.64 percent by late-arriving aircraft, versus 5.54 percent in October; 4.58 percent by factors within the airline’s control -- such as maintenance or crew problems -- compared with 4.44 percent in October; 0.31 percent by extreme weather, the same as in October; and 0.03 percent for security reasons, equal to October’s rate.
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 November, 31.72 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 5.12 percent from November 2009 and down 4.05 percent from October.
Mishandled baggage
The U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.93 reports per 1,000 passengers in November, compared with November 2009’s rate of 2.83 and October 2010’s rate of 2.91.
Incidents involving pets
In November, carriers reported six incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air. There were four reports filed a year earlier seven in October 2010. November’s incidents involved five pet deaths and one pet injury.
Complaints about airline service
In November, the Department received 667 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 20.2 percent from November 2009, and down 10.9 percent from October 2010.
Treatment of disabled passengers
The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in November against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. A total of 43 disability-related complaints was received in November, versus 39 in November 2009 and 49 in October 2010.
Complaints about discrimination
In November, the Department received 11 complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability -- such as race, religion, national origin or sex – equal to the number recorded in November 2009, but five more than in October 2010.
Consumers may file their complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the Web.
