More Delayed Flights in 2019 for US Airlines: On-Time Performance Comparison
US airlines are less punctual in 2019 than they were in 2018.
That's what came out of the comparison that we made between the on-time performance (OTP) of 74 global air carriers during the first half of 2019 and their OTP last year, in 2018.
(You can read the results of our study for 2018 here or directly check our airline ratings)
US Airlines' On-Time Performance in 2019 is Worse than in 2018
Delta Air Lines' on-time performance (OTP)
Delta Air Lines: On-time performance comparison 2018-2019
In 2018, 84.33% of Delta Air Lines's flights arrived on time, making it the most punctual US airline last year.
While it still secures this titles during the first half of 2019, Delta has nonetheless registered an increased proportion of delayed flights:
Since the beginning of 2019, 83.69% of Delta's flights are late - that's a drop of 0?64 points in their on-time performance. However, it's worth pointing out that this is also the smallest decrease among US airlines.
Spirit Airlines' on-time performance (OTP)
Spirit Airlines: On-time performance comparison 2018-2019
Spirit Airlines is the 2nd most punctual US airlines in this first semester of 2019, with an on-time performance of 80.38%.
However, like the other US airlines, that OTP has dropped compared to 2018 - by 1.88 points. In 2018, 82.26% of Spirit's flights were on time.
American Airlines' on-time performance (OTP)
American Airlines: On-time performance comparison 2018-2019
The world's largest airline, American Airlines, is no exception. With an OTP of 79.23%, American Airlines is only the 3rd most punctual US airline.
That's a 1.06 point drop compared to 2018, when 80.29% of their flights were on-time.
United Airlines' on-time performance (OTP)
United Airlines: On-time performance comparison 2018-2019
United Airlines is the bad student of the lot in all regards.
Not only is this US airline the least punctual of all, they also registered the biggest decrease in their OTP.
From 79.92% in 2018, the on-time performance of United Airlines dropped by 3.06 points to reach 76.86% only during the first half of 2019.
How does the On-Time Performance of US airlines Compares Globally?
Out of the 74 airlines rated on their on-time performance during the first half of 2019, the US airlines don't shine, but they are at least in the first half - except for United Airlines, which ranks 39th.
Delta is honorably ranked 11th, at only one spot from the top 10. Spirit Airlines and American Airlines are respectively 23th and 29th.
Interestingly, the most punctual airlines of 2019 are even more punctual than they were in 2018, while the least punctual ones are even less so now than they were last year.
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Data source: Flightstats.com