Strike propels Northwest to top of late-flights list

Associated Press


MINNEAPOLIS - Northwest Airlines Corp. topped the list of late airlines for the second month in a row during September, the first full month of its mechanics strike, according to data released Thursday by the federal Transportation Department.

Northwest flights were on time 74.8 percent of the time - down sharply from its 85.4 percent showing during September 2004. Other older airlines averaged 81.4 percent on-time arrivals during September 2005.

Northwest mechanics walked out on Aug. 20, and the nation's fourth-largest airline kept flying with replacement workers. During August, Northwest was on time 67.2 percent of the time.

Most other large carriers topped 80 percent on-time rates. AMR Corp.'s American Airlines was on time with 81.8 percent of its flights, Continental Airlines Inc. 79.5 percent, Delta Air Lines Inc. 82.7 percent, Southwest Airlines Inc. 83.9 percent, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines 83.1 percent, and US Airways Group Inc. 86.3 percent.