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OIG’s audit objectives were to analyze recent
flight delay and cancellation trends, examine
air carrier scheduling practices and their
relative impact in causing flight delays and
cancellations, and review the FAA’s use of
capacity benchmarks to assess airport capacity
and monitor airline scheduling practices at the
Nation’s largest airports.
OIG found that overall, flight delays fell by 33
percent from 2000 to 2012, and the number of
cancellations nationwide has decreased by 56
percent at the 55 major airports. However, data
limitations hinder the FAA’s ability to track
some of these delays or fully understand their
causes. In addition, OIG found that air carrier
scheduling practices have had a major impact on
reducing the number of flight delays both
nationwide and at specific airports, such as by
increasing scheduled gate-to-gate times and
reducing flight volume.
However, over-scheduling and congestion remain a
problem at several major airports, particularly
in the New York area. Finally, OIG found that
the FAA’s capacity benchmarks have proven useful
for assessing capacity needs at major airports;
however, the Agency has not shared them with
outside stakeholders and the general public
since 2004.
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