Why should the western world be surprised when on-time numbers improve in September — as opposed to July?

I don’t know. But the improved on-time average for the group is certainly getting a lot of press today. As we all know, when the skies are not as crowded with flights — operations tend to function better.

September was no exception.

However, I would point out that while on-time stats month-over-month were much better,  and baggage stats for the group year-over-year improved — year-over-year complaints did not.

For the group, complaints were up 41%. The airline to post the largest percentage gain in complaints? Comair. The airline that posted the biggest reduction in complaints? Hawaiian. The major domestic airline that posted the lowest absolute percentage of complaints? (This does not count those hot shots in Hawaii) — Southwest Airlines. The overall top winner here, with zero complaints filed — Aloha.



Our congrats to the employees at all four airlines.



On the other side of the chart, who was the major domestic airline that posted the largest absolute percentage of complaints? US Airways.

Interesting to note that this month Delta Air Lines almost snatched that less-then-honorable title right out from the nose of US Airways. Delta posted one of the worst months for complaints it has posted in a long time, posting just a hair fewer complaints than did US Airways.

Sitting on top of Delta, in terms of bad complaint numbers were Comair and Atlantic Southeast, so Delta scored a rather undesirable trifecta there this month.

United Airlines, which hasn’t been posting very positive complaint numbers the last few months either, was tied with Atlantic Southeast (a rather nebulous honor, to say the least).

Ticker: (DAL:NYSE), (UAUA:Nasdaq), (LCC:NYSE), (HA:AMEX), (LUV:NYSE)

Technorati Tags: airline industry news, airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways