WASHINGTON -- The United States Department of Transportation (DoT) released its September 2017 Air Travel Consumer Report, on air carrier data compiled for the month of July 2017. In July, the reporting carriers canceled 1.1 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, an improvement over the 1.9 percent cancellation rate posted in July 2016 and equal to the 1.1 percent rate in June 2017.
The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.9 percent in July 2017, up from both the 75.2 percent on-time rate in July 2016 and the 76.2 percent mark in June 2017.
In July 2017, airlines reported 16 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to six such tarmac delays reported in June 2017. In July, airlines also reported six tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights, compared to two such tarmac delays reported in June 2017. All reported extended tarmac delays are investigated by the Department.
The consumer report also includes data on chronically delayed flights and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers. In addition, the consumer report contains a record of aviation service complaints filed with DoT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division by consumers regarding a range of issues including flight problems, baggage, reservation and ticketing, refunds, customer service, disability access, and discrimination. The report also includes statistics on mishandled baggage reports filed by consumers with the reporting carriers, data on oversales, and information about the total number of animals that died, were injured, or were lost during air transport in July 2017, as filed by the air carriers with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
The Department has launched an airline passenger microsite to make it easy for travelers to understand their rights. The site can be viewed here: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/flights-and-rights.