Originally Posted by
cmd320
A single US airline, in 2019 when it actually had its act together, was able to claw into third place.
Delta was #1 in Cirium's 2018 report. And against airlines that fly similar route networks, US airlines fare perfectly well.
2020 (so year 2019) OAG report for the 20 largest airlines by passenger counts - 4 out of 6 listed US airlines are in the top 10:
2019 (so 2018 performance) OAG report - 5 out of 6 US airlines are in the top 10:
I think you just don't fly international airlines enough to know that the grass isn't greener on the other side.
Like I said, the congestion is caused by the way US airlines run their operations. Cut frequency, add capacity, reduce the number of overall flights, and this wouldn't be an issue. Banked hubs don't help the situation, but they're a more micro issue.
Cut frequency but somehow add capacity? Sounds like a brilliant idea! Places that support larger planes are already served by A321/739s. Widebody economics don't work on short haul - even Japan is backing away from the "load a 747 for a 1.5 hour flight" model. Doubly so at airports mostly served by narrowbodies because it increases spacing requirements. Depending on the exact aircraft and mix at an airport, adding capacity with a bigger plane may actually reduce aggregate airport capacity because of spacing requirements.
I disagree with this. A massively delayed flight helps no one, not even non-status members. Maybe only Delta who enjoys better than realistic stats and gets off the hook for having to provide accommodations to its customers who will now be living in the terminal for a day.
Delta makes it very easy to rebook your flight if it is delayed. If the flight is delayed and you can find a better way home, then take it! You clearly don't understand that - unless you are at a hub, and even then things can go sideways during IRROPS (and at best you will probably have to make a double jump) - there is not magical capacity to redirect a cancelled flight to - especially during peak travel times. Absorbing 190 passengers onto alternative flights when load factors are at 90%+ doesn't just happen without many people losing the game. There is *zero* instance where anyone is made worse off by delaying the flight. If there are better options available, BOOK THEM! Delta makes it easy. If there are not better options? Then at least you have a guaranteed flight home. Rolling delays are annoying, but typically flights delayed 12-16+ hours are called early (they are usually crew timeout issues at outstations) - maybe a couple of hours of rolling delays and then it gets punted to the next day. Again, if you find a better flight, book it. No one is made worse off by the delay.
Anyways, getting off topic here. Point is, Delta used to be pretty good at operational reliability - whether you look globally or domestically only. They are still doing well on BTS reports
as of late but they are not as good as they used to be. Time will tell whether they recover or if was a permanent loss of skill and will.