DALLAS — U.S. airlines in 2008 enjoyed their best September on-time performance in five years, with 84.9 percent of flights arriving on time, the Department of Transportation said Friday.
The last time the carriers exceeded that mark for a September came in 2003, when they recorded an 85.6 percent on-time arrival, defined as within 14 minutes of schedule.
The latest figures arrived on the heels of major reductions in capacity by most U.S. airlines, with the 19 carriers operating 10 percent fewer flights in September than in the same month a year earlier.
October’s numbers should also benefit from the reduced capacity, with the 10 largest carriers cutting their flying capacity by 8 percent last month compared with October 2007.
The September mark was a 3.2-percentage-point improvement over September 2007, when 81.7 of flights arrived within 14 minutes. In August 2008, the carriers operated only 78.4 percent of their flights on time.
Hawaiian Airlines Inc. led the 19 carriers with 95.1 percent on-time performance, followed by Denver-based Frontier Airlines, with 91.4 percent.
Among the 10 largest carriers, Northwest Airlines Inc. was the leader, with 89.5 percent. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. was next at 89.0 percent, fifth overall.
United Airlines, at No. 17 with 79.8 percent, ranked last among the 10 largest carriers.
Whether because of less crowded airplanes or new fees on checked bags, the airlines also reported significantly fewer complaints about mishandled baggage.
