Slightly More On-Time Arrivals In May

U.S. Airlines See Fewer Late Flights Even As They Struggle Through A Turbulent Economy

(AP)  Domestic airlines improved their on-time arrival rates in May, although more than one in five flights still failed to get passengers to their destination as scheduled, according to government data released Monday.

A total of 21 percent of commercial flights in the U.S. arrived at least 15 minutes late, were canceled or diverted in May, according to the Transportation Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

That is down from more than 22 percent of late flights in the same month last year and in April of this year. The previous month's figure was higher in part because AMR Corp.'s American, the nation's largest carrier, was forced to ground thousands of flights amid tighter government scrutiny of maintenance issues.

The latest government figures show American again had the most delays, getting passengers to their destinations as scheduled only 67.3 percent of the time. It was followed by UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, the second-largest carrier, which reported 72.4 percent of on-time arrivals, and Continental Airlines Inc., with 75.4 percent.

Weather was by far the biggest cause of late flights in May, accounting for just over 44 percent of all delays. Only about 39 percent of flights were late because of weather a year earlier.

U.S. carriers also improved their baggage handling in May. About 4.6 passengers out of every 1,000 reported a mishandled bag during the month, compared with nearly 6 per 1,000 a year earlier and 5 per 1,000 in April.

Reported passenger complaints fell to 885, compared with 930 a year earlier and 1,113 in April.

The U.S. airline industry is straining under record-high fuel prices, which have prompted many carriers to raise fares, announce sweeping flight cutbacks and begin charging for amenities such as checked bags and extra legroom.

Oil prices fell sharply Monday but nonetheless remain within range of last week's all-time highs. Light, sweet crude for August delivery fell $4.54 to $140.75 by midday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

[toolmangler-2009]

Fewer planes in the air (fuel prices) means less time waiting to land.

[corey2444]

Maybe Nanci Peloci who uses tax payer money to fly around in that military jet, that uses THOUSANDS of gallons of fuel, can help fix this problem. Maybe if this elitist actually flew commercial she would try to come up with some solutions, like solving our energy problems instead of finding ways to make herself more of an elitist through socialism. Shhhh.. We are not suppose to say that dirty word.

While the democrats and fake republicans refuse to fix our energy problems we can look forward to the elitists living lavishly, driving around in their fuel guzzling jets and cars. Burning enough electricity to power 10 middle class homes. Everyday eating Caviar, King crab and Lobster, coupled with the finest champagne, wine and liquor, while the little people (you and me) funds it. While the rest of us are going to be told to use mass transit, and have our homes limited to how much energy we can use.

I would love to see them all hung upside down as an endless mob throws rotten tomatoes at them.

Vote them all out!

And F.... Obama..

[oneworldusa]

Fewer fliers, fewer flights = chance at improved on-time rates. Duh.

The problem is mostly that airlines don''t plan for bad weather any time of the year, and that is not part of a responsible business plan.

[edward1975-2009]

They want to save fuel, don''t let a plane leave until it is at least filled to 70% capacity. And cut back on the number of flights. There''s no place on Earth that people need to be that requires an airliner taking off every 15 minutes.

[feelfree4u]

Our airlines suck slightly less!

Woo-hoo!

[ubrew12]

"Slightly More On-Time Arrivals In May"
This is CBS trying to find something, anything good to say about the economy.

[beehive21-2009]

Remember the seventies , the auto industries was done, 5 miles/ gallon car, etc. I said then and now, the Americans invent a brand new industry every time last time Computers, who knows what we''ll get this time ,watch and you shall be amazed a group of people in a garage working on something special ,eg. a teleporter a flying machine strapped on your back ? The Airline industry shall survive not as we know it, however.The future holds lots of promise ,hang on.