Flight Delays, Mishandled Bags, Consumer Complaints Up in '05 Over Previous Year

Paul

Veteran
Nov 15, 2005
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US airlines experienced a higher rate of flight delays, more reports of mishandled baggage and a higher number of complaints about airline service in 2005 than in 2004, according to the DOT's Air Travel Consumer Report.

According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 20 airlines reporting on-time performance with DOT recorded an on-time arrival rate of 77.4 percent in 2005, down from the 78.1 percent mark of 2004. These carriers also recorded a rate of 6.04 reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers last year, up from 2004’s rate of 4.91. The Department received 8,735 complaints from consumers about airline service last year, up 17.2 percent from 2004’s total of 7,452 complaints.

The monthly report also includes data on the causes of flight delays, as well as information on flight cancellations and on consumer disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes data on airline reports of oversales (“bumpingâ€) during the fourth quarter and January-December 2005, as well as reports required to be filed by U.S. carriers of incidents involving pets traveling by air.

December Flight Delays

According to information filed with BTS, the carriers reporting on-time performance posted a 71.0 percent on-time arrival record in December, down from both December 2004’s 71.6 and November 2005’s 80.0 percent marks.

Aero-News Network

Air Travel Consumer Report (PDF)

BTS
 
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