DOT Reveals Deterioration in US Airline Performance for December 2024
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently unveiled data indicating a decline in airline performance in December 2024. This was marked by a notable increase in delays and cancellations compared to the same period in the previous year.
As per the Air Travel Consumer Report, airlines recorded merely a 78.0% on-time arrival rate in December 2024. This was a significant drop from 84.9% in November 2024 and 83.9% in December 2023. Additionally, the cancellation rate surged to 0.7% in December 2024, surpassing both November 2024 (0.5%) and December 2023 (0.4%).
There was a marked escalation in tarmac delays as well. Airlines reported a whopping 46 delays of over three hours on domestic flights in December 2024, a stark contrast to the mere eight reported in November 2024. Throughout 2024, airlines reported 437 such delays, a substantial increase from the 289 reported in 2023.
The report encompassed 627,365 flights operated in December 2024, reflecting a 3.91% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, airlines reported higher mishandled baggage rates at 0.60% in December, a rise from 0.39% in November and 0.50% in December 2023.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation