ATLANTA — Airlines are improving their on time performance and also their baggage-handling, new numbers suggest.
According to the Air Travel Consumer Report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the 15 largest U.S. airlines posted an 83.7 percent on-time arrival rate during the first six months of 2012. That is the highest mark for any January-June period in the 18 years the Department has collected comparable data.
The previous high was 82.8 percent came in 2003. Also, in June, nearly 99.7 percent of all U.S. airline passengers had their bags properly delivered, the best June for delivering bags since 1988, when the government starting tracking, according to Airlines for America.
“Our member airlines are delivering levels of customer service that no other industry, given its complexity, matches and are working to make air travel even more efficient for passengers and shippers,” A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio said in a news release. “Thanks to ongoing operational improvements throughout the system, airlines are delivering a strong on-time performance.”
The feds are quick to take the credit for the improvement in on time flights.
“Our new airline consumer rules and our vigorous oversight of the aviation industry are holding airlines accountable to their customers,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We will continue to help make air travel as hassle-free as possible.”