Report Cites Only Three Flights in July Delayed Three Or More Hours, Down From 161

The nation's largest airlines reported only three flights in July with tarmac delays of more than three hours, compared to 161 flights in July 2009, with only a slight increase in the rate of canceled flights, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released Monday by the U.S. DOT.

Data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showed the only tarmac delays longer than three hours reported in July by the 18 airlines that file on-time performance with DOT involved three American Eagle Airlines flights departing Chicago's O'Hare airport on July 23, a day in which the Chicago area experienced a severe thunderstorm and a number of aircraft were caught on the runway.  July was the third full month of data since the new aviation consumer rule went into effect on April 29.  There were only four tarmac delays of more than three hours in May and June 2010 combined, compared to 302 during the same two-month period of 2009.  BTS is a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

The largest carriers canceled 1.4 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in July, slightly up from the 1.2 percent cancellation rate of July 2009. They posted a 1.5 percent cancellation rate in June 2010.

The new tarmac delay rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning passengers, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations. The Department will investigate tarmac delays that exceed this limit.

The monthly report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers.  In addition, it has information on airline bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.

FMI: http://airconsumer.dot.gov/reports/index.htm,  http://www.bts.gov.