MINNEAPOLIS » Airline passengers got to their destination on time a little more often in July.

The Transportation Department said yesterday that 77.6 percent of airline flights arrived on time, up from 75.7 percent during the same month last year. July's showing was also an improvement over the 76.1 percent on-time rate in June and was the highest for a July in six years.

Hawaiian Airlines, which has led the nation in punctuality for each of the past five years, continued its reign as it topped the list of 19 carriers with 93.6 percent of its flights arriving on time—16 percentage points above the industry average.

In addition, Hawaiian had the industry's lowest cancellation rate at 0.1 percent (four cancellations out of 6,645 flights in July) and was second in fewest mishandled bags with an average of two mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers.

Airlines have generally been flying less because of the recession, and that seems to be helping them get their remaining flights to their destinations on time.

Among the largest carriers, Southwest Airlines flights were on schedule 80.7 percent of the time, followed by US Airways at 80.6 percent and United Airlines at 79.6 percent. United's ranking was a big jump from June's on-time performance of 72.6 percent, among the worst of the big carriers.

Among the largest carriers, Southwest Airlines flights were on schedule 80.7 percent of the time, followed by US Airways at 80.6 percent and United Airlines at 79.6 percent. United's ranking was a big jump from June's on-time performance of 72.6 percent, among the worst of the big carriers.

American Airlines was in last among major carriers, with 72.2 percent of its flights arriving on time. Delta Air Lines was a little better at 75.5 percent, and its subsidiary Northwest Airlines came in at 76.4 percent.

Mesa Air Group, parent of interisland carrier go!, was eighth at 78.6 percent.

Comair, a regional subsidiary of Delta, was last at 63.6 percent.

A flight is considered on time if it arrives within 15 minutes of the schedule shown in the carriers' reservation systems.

Canceled and diverted flights are counted as late.

Airlines said the biggest cause of delays was the late arrival of the airplane to be used on the delayed flight.

Other big causes included delays from airport operations and heavy traffic, as well as delays the airline could control, such as maintenance or crew. Weather was cited as a factor in less than 1 percent of all flights.