The US Department of Transportation today said that for the first three months of 2023, airline cancellations have remained below 2%. They are lower than last year’s 2.7% cancellation rate and the rate of 4.1% for the first three months of 2022.
However, DOT is currently investigating several domestic airlines to ensure that they are not engaging in unrealistic scheduling of flights. Gaming the system is possible, perhaps likely, because last year, DOT issued the largest fines in the history of the consumer protection office, thereby helping hundreds of thousands of air travelers get hundreds of millions of dollars back. Since 2021, DOT says it has helped return more than $1 billion in refunds to travelers.
Earlier in May, DOT announced plans to launch a new rule-making that is aimed at requiring airlines to provide compensation and cover expenses for amenities such as meals, hotels, and rebooking when airlines are responsible for stranding passengers. After a two-years of DOT trying to improve the so-called passenger experience, the 10 largest airlines guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel accommodations as part of the Department’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard. DOT uses the data from the ATCR, consumer complaints, and other information it secures from the airlines to inform its enforcement activities and the adequacy of existing rules.
DOT expanded the dashboard last week at FlightRights.Gov to highlight which airlines currently offer cash compensation, provide travel credits or vouchers, or award frequent flyer miles when they cause flight delays or cancellations. DOT’s planned rulemaking would, if adopted in the end, make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight disruptions.
March 2023 On-Time Arrivals
In March 2023, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 75.4%, down from both the rate of 79.4% in February 2023 and from the rate of 77.2% in March 2022. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2023 is 76.9%.
Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates March 2023
- Delta Air Lines Network – 79.2%
- Alaska Airlines Network – 78.1%
- United Airlines Network – 76.9%
Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates March 2023
- Hawaiian Airlines – 59.5%
- Spirit Airlines – 64.0%
- Allegiant Air – 64.2%
For the first three months of 2023, the reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.89%, up from 76.35% for the same period in 2022.
March 2023 Flight Cancellations
In March 2023, reporting marketing carriers canceled 1.3% of their scheduled domestic flights, lower than both the rate 1.8% in February 2023 and the rate of 1.5% in March 2022.
Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights March 2023
- Hawaiian Airlines – 0.7%
- Allegiant Air – 0.8%
- Southwest Airlines – 0.9%
Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights March 2023
- Delta Air Lines Network – 1.7%
- Spirit Airlines – 1.7%
- JetBlue Airways – 1.6%
For the first three months of 2023, the reporting marketing carriers posted a cancellation rate of 1.7%, down from 4.1% for the same period in 2022.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
US Dot – Airline Cancellations Below 2%
The US Department of Transportation today said that for the first three months of 2023, airline cancellations have remained below 2%. They are lower than last year’s 2.7% cancellation rate and the rate of 4.1% for the first three months of 2022.
However, DOT is currently investigating several domestic airlines to ensure that they are not engaging in unrealistic scheduling of flights. Gaming the system is possible, perhaps likely, because last year, DOT issued the largest fines in the history of the consumer protection office, thereby helping hundreds of thousands of air travelers get hundreds of millions of dollars back. Since 2021, DOT says it has helped return more than $1 billion in refunds to travelers.
Earlier in May, DOT announced plans to launch a new rule-making that is aimed at requiring airlines to provide compensation and cover expenses for amenities such as meals, hotels, and rebooking when airlines are responsible for stranding passengers. After a two-years of DOT trying to improve the so-called passenger experience, the 10 largest airlines guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel accommodations as part of the Department’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard. DOT uses the data from the ATCR, consumer complaints, and other information it secures from the airlines to inform its enforcement activities and the adequacy of existing rules.
DOT expanded the dashboard last week at FlightRights.Gov to highlight which airlines currently offer cash compensation, provide travel credits or vouchers, or award frequent flyer miles when they cause flight delays or cancellations. DOT’s planned rulemaking would, if adopted in the end, make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight disruptions.
March 2023 On-Time Arrivals
In March 2023, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 75.4%, down from both the rate of 79.4% in February 2023 and from the rate of 77.2% in March 2022. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2023 is 76.9%.
Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates March 2023
Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates March 2023
For the first three months of 2023, the reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.89%, up from 76.35% for the same period in 2022.
March 2023 Flight Cancellations
In March 2023, reporting marketing carriers canceled 1.3% of their scheduled domestic flights, lower than both the rate 1.8% in February 2023 and the rate of 1.5% in March 2022.
Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights March 2023
Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights March 2023
For the first three months of 2023, the reporting marketing carriers posted a cancellation rate of 1.7%, down from 4.1% for the same period in 2022.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.