US airlines on-time rate improves in April, with fewer long tarmac delays
By APThursday, June 3, 2010
US airlines on-time rate improves in April
NEW YORK — The government says U.S. airlines operated more flights on-time in April and far fewer passengers were stuck in long tarmac delays.
The 18 airlines that report statistics to the Department of Transportation were on-time 85.3 percent of the time in April, compared with a rate of 79.1 percent a year earlier and 80 percent in March.
U.S. Airways posted the best on-time rate among major mainline carriers. It was third in the overall rankings behind Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines. American Airlines reported the worst on-time rate of big U.S. carriers. Regional affiliate American Eagle was last among all airlines reporting.
Only 4 planes were stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours, down from 25 in March. One flight was stuck for more than four hours.
