Airlines' On-time Performance Improves In March

HARRY R. WEBER

ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. airlines' on-time performance and baggage handling improved in March compared with a year ago, but was worse than in February of this year, government data released Tuesday shows. The rate of cancellations and number of complaints to the government was lower year-over year, but higher than in February.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a unit of St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Inc. and a feeder carrier for Delta Air Lines Inc., had the worst on-time performance in March, while Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance in the month.

The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics said the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 78.4 percent in March, better than the 71.6-percent on-time rate of March 2008 but down from the 82.6 percent recorded in February of this year.

The carriers reported that in March 7.29 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared with 6.58 percent in February; 6.49 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared with 4.79 percent in February; 4.84 percent by factors within the airline's control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared with 4.17 percent in February; 0.62 percent by extreme weather, compared with 0.43 percent in February; and 0.04 percent for security reasons, compared with 0.02 percent in February.