Hawaiian Air most on-time carrier for 30 months in row

Aloha Airlines ranks No. 17 in the report

Hawaiian Airlines led 20 U.S. carriers surveyed for on-time performance for the 30th straight month in April, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation report released yesterday.

The Air Travel Consumer Report said 94.3 percent of Hawaiian's flights arrived on schedule, which is considered up to 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time.

The average for the 20 airlines that provided the department with on-time statistics was 78.4 percent.

Comair, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, was second with an on-schedule rate of 85.1 percent.

"It's one thing to talk about being the best; it's another thing to just do it," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and chief executive.

Rival Aloha Airlines Inc. was No. 17 with a 73.2 percent on-time rate.

Hawaiian has been No. 1 since November 2003 when it began reporting statistics to the government.

Hawaiian and Aloha have several advantages on their side in staying on schedule. Most of their flights are short hauls within the islands, taking about 30 minutes. They also service the fewest number of airports among the 20 carriers surveyed and don't deal with harsh winter weather conditions like on the mainland.

Hawaiian finished second to JetBlue in fewest cancellations and best baggage handling in April.

Of the 4,016 Hawaiian flights in April, only five were canceled. The company mishandled 3.11 bags per 1,000 passengers.

Aloha had no complaints in April submitted to the department, leading the 20 carriers. Hawaiian had one complaint and was ranked fourth, based on the ratio of complaints to the number of passengers.