Travel Tips

Travel Tip: The Statistics for Airline On Time Performance 2015

Image Credit: Courtney Crockett

Image Credit: Courtney Crockett

The new airline on time performance statistics are out, with some big winners and some big losers.

Keep in mind that the U.S. Department of Transportation considers a flight on time if it arrives within 14 minutes of its scheduled arrival time.

The winner in the latest report: Delta Air Lines. Delta’s flights were punctual more than 85 percent of the time.

In second place is Alaska Airlines, followed by Hawaiian Airlines at 81 percent.

Trailing the rear is United Airlines at 78 percent and Frontier Airlines at 77 percent.

JetBlue’s flights arrived within 14 minutes of schedule just 74 percent of the time.

Coming in last is Spirit Airlines, at just 63 percent.

But what does the government consider an on time departure? If the plane pushes back within 15 minutes of scheduled departure, it’s on time.

That’s totally misleading information. How often has your plane pushed back on time, and then sat on the tarmac?

Based on that reporting system, NO airline can be a winner in this category.

For more information about airline performance, check out:

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