Airlines set performance record

The nation’s largest airlines set a single-month record in November for on-time performance for the nearly 15 years the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has collected comparable data, according to the “Air Travel Consumer Report.” They also set a record for the lowest rate of mishandled baggage in a single month since these data were first collected in September 1987.

According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 88.6 percent in November, higher than both Nov. 2008′s 83.3 percent and Oct. 2009′s 77.3 percent. Since comparable data were first collected in Jan. 1995, the previous high on-time mark for reporting carriers was 88 percent in Sept. 2002.

In addition, the U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.78 reports per 1,000 passengers in November, an improvement over both Nov. 2008′s rate of 3.75 and Oct. 2009′s 3.48 rate.  The previous record low rate for mishandled baggage was Sept. 2009′s 3.01 mark.