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From Eagles website.
By Russell Grantham
Delta Air Lines' biggest contract carrier in Atlanta is once again at the bottom of the pack when it comes to delivering customers on time and with their bags, according to the latest government data.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines had a 54.2 percent on-time arrival rate in July, putting it in last place among 20 carriers in the U.S. Department of Transportation's monthly report.
Likewise, ASA had the industry's worst rate of baggage complaints, with 15.45 per 1,000 passengers.
This summer has shaped up as one of the worst ever for air travelers as airlines have filled planes with record numbers of passengers, leading to clogged skies and airports when summer storms roll through.
Industrywide, 69.8 percent of flights arrived on time in July, compared with 73.7 percent a year earlier, according to the DOT. The agency treats a flight as on time if it arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
"The entire industry faced a really tough July," said Delta spokesman Kent Landers. He said adverse weather in the Northeast and an overtaxed air traffic control system contributed to flight delays and cancellations throughout Delta's network.
The DOT said weather delays affected about 43 percent of late flights in July.
Delta's and AirTran's on-time performance also slipped in July.
AirTran, the second-largest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson International, ranked 12th in the industry, with 68.9 percent of flights arriving on time, compared with 75.6 percent a year ago.
It had the third-lowest rate of baggage complaints in the industry, with 5.56 per 1,000 passengers, slightly better than a year earlier.
Delta's on-time rate was 16th out of 20, with 65.3 percent on time vs. 74 percent last year, when it was in the middle of the pack.
Delta's baggage performance also slipped in July to 9.29 complaints per 1,000 from 6.61 a year ago, but its rank rose slightly, to 12th.
ASA, however, has had more than its share of late flights and complaints about lost or misplaced luggage.
The Atlanta-based carrier, which is owned by Utah-based SkyWest Airlines, climbed from the bottom of the industry rankings this spring after adding more workers and equipment.
Dissatisfied with the improvements, Delta took over ASA's ground operations at Hartsfield-Jackson International in June. So far, ASA's on-time rate in June and July is worse than last year's rate for the same months.
ASA's baggage performance has improved a bit over the same months last year, according to the DOT numbers, but not enough to get it out of the bottom of the rankings.
An ASA spokeswoman said Delta's move has resulted in some improvements, but that the airline struggled with record numbers of flights and passengers.
"There's no question that our July on-time performance is not where we want it to be," said ASA spokeswoman Kate Modolo.
"When the schedule is as tight as it was over the summer, there's less room to recover."
By Russell Grantham
Delta Air Lines' biggest contract carrier in Atlanta is once again at the bottom of the pack when it comes to delivering customers on time and with their bags, according to the latest government data.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines had a 54.2 percent on-time arrival rate in July, putting it in last place among 20 carriers in the U.S. Department of Transportation's monthly report.
Likewise, ASA had the industry's worst rate of baggage complaints, with 15.45 per 1,000 passengers.
This summer has shaped up as one of the worst ever for air travelers as airlines have filled planes with record numbers of passengers, leading to clogged skies and airports when summer storms roll through.
Industrywide, 69.8 percent of flights arrived on time in July, compared with 73.7 percent a year earlier, according to the DOT. The agency treats a flight as on time if it arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
"The entire industry faced a really tough July," said Delta spokesman Kent Landers. He said adverse weather in the Northeast and an overtaxed air traffic control system contributed to flight delays and cancellations throughout Delta's network.
The DOT said weather delays affected about 43 percent of late flights in July.
Delta's and AirTran's on-time performance also slipped in July.
AirTran, the second-largest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson International, ranked 12th in the industry, with 68.9 percent of flights arriving on time, compared with 75.6 percent a year ago.
It had the third-lowest rate of baggage complaints in the industry, with 5.56 per 1,000 passengers, slightly better than a year earlier.
Delta's on-time rate was 16th out of 20, with 65.3 percent on time vs. 74 percent last year, when it was in the middle of the pack.
Delta's baggage performance also slipped in July to 9.29 complaints per 1,000 from 6.61 a year ago, but its rank rose slightly, to 12th.
ASA, however, has had more than its share of late flights and complaints about lost or misplaced luggage.
The Atlanta-based carrier, which is owned by Utah-based SkyWest Airlines, climbed from the bottom of the industry rankings this spring after adding more workers and equipment.
Dissatisfied with the improvements, Delta took over ASA's ground operations at Hartsfield-Jackson International in June. So far, ASA's on-time rate in June and July is worse than last year's rate for the same months.
ASA's baggage performance has improved a bit over the same months last year, according to the DOT numbers, but not enough to get it out of the bottom of the rankings.
An ASA spokeswoman said Delta's move has resulted in some improvements, but that the airline struggled with record numbers of flights and passengers.
"There's no question that our July on-time performance is not where we want it to be," said ASA spokeswoman Kate Modolo.
"When the schedule is as tight as it was over the summer, there's less room to recover."
