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November 10, 2010 – The nation’s largest airlines
reported four flights in September with tarmac delays of
more than three hours, down from six flights in
September 2009, with only a slight increase in the rate
of canceled flights, according to the Air Travel
Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
Data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
(BTS) showed the only tarmac delays longer than three
hours reported in September by the 18 airlines that file
on-time performance data with DOT involved delays caused
by weather in
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The
largest carriers canceled 0.9 percent of their scheduled
domestic flights in September, up from the 0.6 percent
cancellation rate of September 2009. They posted a 1.0 percent
cancellation rate in August 2010.
The new
tarmac delay rule prohibits
The
monthly report also includes data on on-time performance,
chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations and the causes
of flight delays filed with the Department by the reporting
carriers. In addition, it has information on airline bumping,
reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the
carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination
complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection
Division. This report also includes reports of incidents
involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by |
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These carriers posted
a bumping rate of 0.87 per 10,000 passengers for the quarter, down from
the 1.01 rate for the third quarter of 2009. For the first nine months
of this year, the carriers had a bumping rate of 1.19 per 10,000
passengers, down from the rate of 1.26 rate posted during the first nine
months of 2009.
In September, carriers reported four incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air, equal to the four reports filed in September 2009, but up from the one in August 2010. September’s incidents involved the death of three pets and the injury of one pet.
In September, the
Department received 755 complaints about airline service from consumers,
up 25.2 percent from the 603 complaints filed in September 2009 but down
37.1 percent from the 1,200 received in August 2010. For the first nine
months of this year, the Department received 8,811 consumer complaints,
up 32.0 percent from the total of 6,676 filed during the first nine
months of 2009. The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in September against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The Department received a total of 41 disability-related complaints in September, up from the total of 28 filed in September 2009 but down from the 71 complaints received in August 2010. For the first nine months of this year, the Department received 440 disability-related complaints, up 13.7 percent from the total of 387 filed during the first nine months of 2009. In September, the Department received 10 complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability – such as race, religion, national origin or sex – down from both the total of 11 recorded in September 2009 and 17 recorded in August 2010. For the first nine months of this year, the Department received 111 complaints about discrimination, up 12.1 percent from the total of 99 filed during the first nine months of 2009.Consumers who want on-time performance data for specific flights should call their airline’s reservation number or their travel agent. This information is available on the computerized reservation systems used by these agents. The information is also available on the appropriate carrier’s website. |
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