You have almost certainly enjoyed the “hospitality” of an airline as you waited… and waited… and waited for a delayed flight. Maybe you were on the plane, wishing that you could get off and sit somewhere more comfortable. Maybe you were in the airport, wishing that you a) had news of the plane’s whereabouts and b) had a more comfortable chair to sit in.
Although the airlines try to shift the blame for these delays away from themselves, the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress concludes that
The Vast Majority of Flight Delays Result from Systemic Problems in the Airline Industry
According to the DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the top reason that flights were delayed – accounting for almost 40 percent of all delayed flights – was that other flights arrive late, creating a cycle of delay that leaves passengers distressed and airlines in deeper financial difficulty. Other top reasons for delay point to a system under strain. Circumstances within the airlines’ control, such as baggage handling and fueling account for 29 percent of delayed flights, and problems within the aviation system such as air traffic congestion and disruption from non-extreme weather conditions comprise another 28 percent. Accounting for less than 6 percent of total delays, extreme weather was a tiny and declining reason for flight delays in 2007.
The emphasis is mine and highlights the fact that the airlines are directly responsible for 69% of their own flight delays. These delays have nothing to do with general aviation or user fees or government funding or air traffic control. The delays are simply the result of poor management decisions such as scheduling more flights to take off simultaneously from an airport than are physically possible and scheduling flights so close together that minor delays daisy-chain throughout the day.
You can read the whole Joint Economic Committee report here: Your Flight has been Delayed Again.
I couldn’t agree more! In fact I find the majority of times the biggest failure on airlines is their ability to communicate to their customers problems and issues that they’re having. However my recent trip that I blogged about is a good demonstration of how we as the consumer also aggravate the situation by our reaction to issues that are outside of the airlines control.
Enjoyed your post!