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In a repeat, Hawaiian takes '09 on-time title


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POSTED: Saturday, February 13, 2010

As sure as a flight on time, Hawaiian Airlines has once again topped the nation's carriers in on-time performance in 2009.

This was the sixth consecutive year on top for Hawaiian Airlines, which operates a fraction of the flights of the big carriers.

               

     

 

ARRIVING ON TIME

        A look at 19 U.S. airlines' on-time arrival rate in 2009, according to the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics:
       

 

       

       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
On-Time CarrierArrival Pct.
1. Hawaiian92.1
2. Southwest83
3. Alaska82.9
4. Pinnacle82.5
5. SkyWest82.1
6. United81
7. US Airways80.9
8. Northwest79.2
9. Mesa79.1
10. Continental78.8
11. ExpressJet78.7
12. Delta78.6
13. Frontier78.3
14. JetBlue77.5
15. American Eagle77.2
16. American77.2
17. AirTran Airways75.8
18. Atlantic Southeast71.2
19. Comair69
—All Airlines79.5

       

 

       

       

Hawaiian led on-time performance throughout last year, averaging 92.1 percent for all of 2009. The airline has dominated on-time performance since 2004, and has earned the top ranking for 63 of the possible 72 months.

Hawaiian also finished the year as the nation's top-ranked carrier for fewest cancellations, and the second highest overall for baggage handling.

Nationwide last year, airlines turned in their best on-time performance since 2003. They were helped by fewer flights, a little schedule padding and a greater focus on improving their operations.

The U.S. Transportation Department said yesterday that airlines averaged a 79.5 percent on-time arrival rate in 2009. Flights count as on time if they arrive less than 15 minutes late.

Among the largest carriers, Southwest Airlines had the best record, with 83 percent of its flights on time. United was tops among the big traditional carriers, with 81 percent of flights on time.

Airlines struggled in December, though, as winter storms pushed down the on-time rate to 72 percent. The DOT tracks on-time arrivals for flights between U.S. airports. International flights do not count.

In December, Hawaiian Airlines was at the top, with only two cancellations out of 5,833 flights.

Airlines have increasingly padded their schedules for flights to congested airports to improve the chance of arriving on time. They say the extra time accounts for unpredictable delays, especially at the three busy New York-area airports, which finished in the bottom third of the big U.S. airports for on-time departures in 2009.