BTS Data Shows Only 12 Delays Beyond The New Limit Since
May
November was the second month in a row that the nation's largest
airlines reported no flights with tarmac delays of more than three
hours, while the carriers reported only a slight increase in the
rate of canceled flights during the month, according to the Air
Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT). This past October and November were the only
months with no tarmac delays of more than three hours by the
reporting carriers since the Department began collecting more
comprehensive tarmac delay data in October 2008.
Data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
showed there have been only 12 total tarmac delays of more than
three hours reported from May through November 2010 by the 18
airlines that file on-time performance data with DOT, compared to
550 during the same seven-month period of 2009. November was
the seventh full month of data since the new aviation consumer rule
went into effect on April 29, 2010. BTS is a part of
DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).
The largest carriers canceled 0.7 percent of their scheduled
domestic flights in November, up from the 0.5 percent cancellation
rate of November 2009. They posted a 0.97 percent
cancellation rate in October 2010. The number of canceled flights
with tarmac delays of more than two hours increased only slightly,
from 224 between May and November 2009 to 241 between May and
November 2010. There were 11 canceled flights with tarmac delays of
more than two hours in November 2010, up from zero in November
2009.
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.
Kate Hanni
FlyersRights.org executive director Kate Hanni praised the
performance of the airlines under the new rules, but said
international passengers should also be afforded the same
consideration. "The DOT has hit a home run for travelers with the 3
hour rule. We hope they move swiftly to announce their new rule
further enhancing airline passengers rights by giving International
flights the same protections afforded our domestic flights. While
the Regulation is an important protection, its vital that the new
Congress move quickly to both include the airline passengers bill
of rights in the FAA Modernization Bill and pass it quickly so that
airline passengers have permanent, enforceable and sustainable
rights," said Hanni. The group pushed for the tarmac delay
rules.
The monthly report also includes data on on-time performance,
chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations and the causes of
flight delays filed with the Department by the reporting carriers.
In addition, it has information on reports of mishandled baggage
filed by consumers 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.