On-Time Flight Performance Statistics Now Available On-Line

Contact DOT 168-95 Carolee Bush 202-366-6946 Donald Bright 202-366-4373

Wednesday, September 27, 1995 -- The Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) announces that on-time flight performance statistics for air travel between selected U.S. cities served by various airlines are now available on-line on the BTS Home Page.

The data are compiled by the Office of Airline Information (OAI) which recently transferred to BTS, and cover nonstop scheduled flights between points within the United States (including territories) by the 10 largest U.S. carriers, i.e., those with a least one percent of total domestic scheduled- service passenger revenues. These airlines account for more than 90 percent of domestic scheduled passenger service revenues. The 10 airlines include Alaska, American, America West, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, USAir and United Airlines.

Dr. T. R. Lakshmanan, director of BTS, noted, "Airline data are a significant component of DOT's intermodal data banks because most long distance interstate and international commercial passengers travel by air. On-time flight performance statistics will permit consumers to better assess the timeliness of services that are available to them when making travel plans."

The on-time statistics contain data filed by the airlines each month with the department as required by DOT regulations. While the rule requires carriers to report on operations to and from the 27 largest U.S. airports (those with at least one percent of the nation's total domestic scheduled-service passenger emplanements), all 10 airlines have voluntarily provided data for their entire domestic systems, and that information is included in these reports.

In addition to on-time flight performance statistics, the BTS Home Page contains national transportation information and statistics. In the near future, international transportation data also will be available to the public.

• The BTS Home Page can be accessed via the World Wide Web at http://www.bts.gov
• From there, users can select Office of Airline Information and then On-Time Statistics
• Access is also available through gopher://gopher.bts.gp or ftp://ftp.bts.gov
• General information is available through e-mail by writing info@bts.gov