Flight Delays Reduced... or Not?

On December 4, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that its recent enforcement actions had succeeded in prompting U.S. airlines to begin correcting chronically delayed flights. But on the same day, the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports that the airlines' on-time flight performance grew worse from September to October.

According to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, a DOT investigation of those airlines with the most chronically delayed flights had resulted in the airlines taking action to end those delays.

"Tough scrutiny and a willingness to impose serious penalties have caused the airlines to correct these chronically delayed flights," Said Secretary Peters in a press release.

On the other hand, the BTS reported that the rate of flight delays and cancellations during October 2007 was higher than in September. The airlines’ overall on-time arrival rate of 81.7 percent reported during September fell to only 78.2 percent during October.

On November 15, the White House issued its own set of directives intended to help reduce flight delays. Among the steps proposed by President Bush, a new regulation would increase the penalty paid by airlines to bumped passengers forced to wait more than two hours for another flight to $800 from the current $400.

Also See:
Bush Moves to Ease Air Travel Delays
Clinton Also Tired to Help, Back in 2000
DOT to Investigate Airline Passenger Strandings
Online Airport Delay Reports