Summary
Allegiant Air’s On-Time Performance
Allegiant Air had the worst on-time performance while Hawaiian Airlines had the best. Airlines in the United States experienced a turbulent year with over 22% of all flights affected by delays or cancellations, with certain carriers facing even more significant challenges.
Overall, the 10 major U.S. airlines recorded an on-time percentage of 77.13% from July 2021 to July 2022, according to Bureau of Transportation statistics. The issues ranged from airline-caused delays to external factors like weather and late-arriving aircraft. Notably, air carriers were responsible for 7.83% of the delays during the last year.
Allegiant Air posted the lowest on-time percentage among the major 10 airlines, achieving on-time arrivals only 61.96% of the time from July 2021 through July 2022. Of Allegiant’s delays and cancellations, 8.45% were attributed to air carrier delays, and 4.34% resulted from canceled or diverted flights.
A spokesperson for Allegiant attributed these challenges to high demand, staff shortages, and external factors such as weather. “As an airline that is 100% focused on leisure travel, we understand the frustration of our customers. We are actively working to reduce the labor shortage by providing incentives to attract and retain key employees, including higher wages and work schedule flexibility,” the spokesperson stated.
JetBlue’s Challenges
In the next tier was JetBlue, which managed an on-time percentage of 65.57% during the same time frame. A significant portion of JetBlue’s difficulties—13.47%—were also related to air carrier delays.
A representative for JetBlue noted that the airline’s numerous flights in the “congested weather-prone northeast corridor” contribute significantly to their delay issues. “We know that delays are never ideal, especially since many of our customers are traveling for leisure or visiting family. We strive to minimize cancellations, ensuring we get our customers to their destinations, which reflects our stronger completion factor,” commented Derek Dombrowski, the general manager for corporate communications at JetBlue.
Hawaiian Airlines’ Success
Conversely, Hawaiian Airlines stood out with the highest on-time percentage among major U.S. airlines at 85.43%. Remarkably, only 0.83% of Hawaiian’s flights were canceled or diverted. Following closely was Delta Air Lines, boasting an on-time percentage of 83.32%.
The summer of 2022 saw mass cancellations and airlines trimming their schedules to reduce disruptions; however, the situation has improved. Nonetheless, experts warn that the winter holiday season may introduce additional challenges. “It’s quite likely that as flight volumes increase, we could see a rise in cancellations and delays,” remarked Alice Mariscotti-Wyatt, the head of content at AirHelp.
Advice for Travelers
Mariscotti-Wyatt also offered several tips for travelers to minimize potential travel disruptions. For instance, travelers are advised to schedule flights before noon and consider flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, as these days typically have fewer flights. Data indicates that Tuesdays are among the slowest days, with an average of just over 849,000 flights per day from January to October, resulting in the lowest cancellation rates at only 1.54%.
Despite the best-laid plans, disruptions occasionally occur. Therefore, knowing one’s options when faced with interruptions is vital. Recently, the Department of Transportation introduced a new website outlining airline compensation policies and suggested a rule change requiring airlines to issue refunds for delayed domestic flights.
“For most passengers, the main concern is understanding what will happen with their travel plans. Being informed about your rights is essential,” added Mariscotti-Wyatt.
Overall Performance of Major Airlines
Below are the on-time percentages for all 10 major airlines from July 2021 to July 2022, based on the Bureau of Transportation data:
- Alaska Airlines: 78.1%
- Allegiant Air: 61.96%
- American Airlines: 76.39%
- Delta Air Lines: 83.32%
- Frontier Airlines: 69.27%
- Hawaiian Airlines: 85.43%
- JetBlue: 65.57%
- Southwest Airlines: 72.68%
- Spirit Airlines: 71.83%
- United Airlines: 78.04%
