U.S. Airlines' On-Time Performance Improves

Nearly 85 percent of the biggest U.S. carriers' flights arrived on time in November, possibly helped by fewer flights since Sept. 11, the U.S. Department of Transportation said on Wednesday.
The on-time figure for the 11 top carriers -- 84.7 percent -- was slightly below October's 84.8 percent, the carriers' best showing in more than four years, the department said. But it was well above November 2000's 72.8 percent on-time rate.

"The reduced volume of air traffic following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks may have contributed to the reduction in flight delays," it said.

But the overall length of many plane trips, including stepped-up security, no doubt went up after passengers were told to arrive two hours ahead, not just one, for domestic flights, said Paul Hudson, executive director of the Aviation Consumer Action Project, a Washington-based watchdog group for air travelers.

In addition, new parking restrictions at many airports, plus removal of spaces closest to some terminals, have forced many passengers to use outer lots, adding to travel time, he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztra...02-on-time.htm

http://news1.iwon.com/article/id/199...1|reuters.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 01-02-2002).]