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Aloha tops
airlines in
on-time arrival

The carrier reached its
destination on schedule in
90.5% of its flights in October

---

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

Aloha Airlines had the best on-time performance in October of all airlines reporting to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Aloha's on-time arrival rate was 90.5 percent of its flights, beating out such giants as Northwest Airlines, with 83.5 percent, and third-ranked Continental Airlines, with 82.2 percent.

America West Airlines was in the bottom place with only 60.5 percent of its flights arriving on time, and United Airlines was next to worst out of 11 airlines reporting, with a 69.6 percent on-time arrival record in October, the department files show.

Aloha was not required to disclose its performance, since only airlines which have at least 1 percent of total domestic scheduled-carrier revenues need comply, essentially limiting the online performance reporting to the biggest airlines.

However, Aloha chose to do so voluntarily for the first time, the department said.

Aloha since 1998 has offered its passengers a service guarantee, giving a free one-way interisland ticket to any traveler who can show that the airline violated its promises of on-time departures and arrivals, prompt baggage delivery ands courteous service.

Aloha flew more than 5 million passengers in Hawaii in 1999, and in February this year began Honolulu-Oakland and Maui-Oakland service. The airline also plans to expand to Las Vegas and Southern California and provides weekly service to the Pacific islands of Johnston, Midway and the Marshall Islands.

Competitor Hawaiian Airlines does not disclose its on-time performance and is not required to do so.

The federal government said America West had the highest cancellation rate among all airlines reporting, dropping 4.9 percent of its flights, and Continental had the lowest cancellation rate in October, 0.8 percent of its flights.

The government report does not detail the reasons for flight delays or cancellations.