Airlines improve on-time arrivals in August

updated 3:13 p.m. ET Oct. 6, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS -

Arriving on-time was just a little bit easier for airline passenger traveling in August.

The Transportation Department said on Tuesday that 79.7 percent of flights arrived on time in August. That was an improvement from 78.4 percent in August 2008, and 77.6 percent in July.

Southwest Airlines Co. was the most punctual of the large carriers, with an on-time arrival rate of 82.8 percent. Continental, US Airways, and United also came in above the average of 79.7 percent. Northwest (now part of Delta Air Lines Inc.) and AirTran had the lowest on-time rate of the big carriers, near 74 percent.

Airlines say the biggest cause of delays were when one late plane caused the next flight on the same aircraft to be late. Another cause was issues with the national aviation system such as airport operations, heavy traffic, and air traffic control.

Nineteen airlines report monthly on-time data and causes of delays to the Department of Transportation. The delays are labeled under categories such as "Extreme Weather" and "National Aviation System Delay" that were created by the airlines, industry groups, travel agents and government officials.

The government considers a flight on-time if it arrives within 15 minutes of schedule. Canceled and diverted flights count as late.

Hawaiian Airlines topped the list of all 19 carriers, with 94.7 percent of flights arriving on-time. Delta regional operator Comair was last, at 65.9 percent. Comair also had the highest rate of canceled flights, 4.3 percent. Continental canceled just 0.2 percent of its flights, the best of all 19 carriers.

Those on-time passengers were a little more likely to have their luggage waiting for them, too. Reports of mishandled bags fell to 4.04 per 1,000 passengers in August, down from 4.98 a year earlier. Fewer people are flying this year, and the passengers who remain are checking fewer bags because of baggage fees.

AirTran had the best baggage performance in August, with 1.74 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. Comair held last place by this measure, too, with 8.2 mishandled bags for every 1,000 passengers. Delta had the lowest ranking of the large carriers, with 5.02 mishandled bags for every 1,000 passengers.

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