Which Airline Has The Most Delays: Have you ever found yourself sitting in a gloomy departure lounge, feeling utterly bored and clueless about the technical issues the pilot is mumbling about while you’re stuck on the runway? Well, my friend, you’ve just encountered one of the biggest nightmares of any frequent flyer: the dreadful airline delay. For those traveling for work, it could result in a missed meeting; for vacationers, it means fewer hours basking in the sun, and for those with connecting flights, it can turn into an absolute disaster.
The United States Department of Transportation diligently records all delays, regardless of their duration or cause. By the end of each year, they compile comprehensive statistics for every major airline. Let’s delve into the findings for the five slowest carriers in the country between May 2013 and May 2014. It’s important to note that the national average for delays stands at 23.3%.
Which Airline Has The Most Delays
1. Frontier Airlines
According to a study conducted by NerdWallet, Frontier Airlines took the lead in the United States when it came to delayed flights last year. More than 30.7 percent of their flights faced some sort of hold up. JetBlue followed closely behind with 30.4 percent of flights experiencing delays, while Spirit Airlines had over 28.5 percent of flights delayed during the same time frame.
Frontier topped the list for flight cancellations in the country, canceling 2.13 percent of all flights. JetBlue came in second with a cancellation rate of 2.1 percent, followed by Spirit Airlines at 1.7 percent.
2. Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines, known for their eye-catching red and blue Boeings and affordable ticket prices, continues to see an increase in profits each quarter. However, it seems like their on-time performance could use some improvement.
They held the record for the highest percentage of delayed flights in America from May 2013 to May 2014, with a staggering 27.24% – over 4% higher than the national average! Surprisingly, only 4.1% of the delays were attributed to the national aviation system, putting the onus on delayed arrivals and carrier management.
3. JetBlue Airlines
New York’s very own JetBlue Airways is set to be the go-to choice for numerous traveler’s this year, offering exciting destinations across North America and the Caribbean. However, it’s worth noting that their delay rate stands at 26.44%, which is more than 3% higher than the national average.
I wonder how many travelers will arrive at their destination on time. The real challenge lies in whether the budget airline can address the substantial 7% of delays attributed to its management, and if they can streamline their processes and enhance their timetables to decrease the considerable number of delays caused by late arrivals at airports.
4. AirTran
Just skimming below the typical airline delay rate, low-cost carrier AirTran stands at a slightly worrisome 22.54% of delayed flights. The main issue appears to be connecting planes running behind schedule, accounting for over a third of the airline’s total delays. However, bad luck also plays a role, with more than 7% of delays attributed to factors completely beyond AirTran’s control.
5. American Airlines
American Airlines is on its way to becoming the top name in the airline industry worldwide. However, they need to step up their game in handling flight delays, especially since most of their late flights are due to connecting aircraft arriving behind schedule.
Despite its reported 6% of delays caused by the national aviation system and a mere 0.92% of delays due to severe weather conditions, American can be forgiven considering its extensive fleet size of more than 600 aircraft flying globally.
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