Table 1-68: Major U.S. Air Carrier Delays, Cancellations, and Diversions
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | (R) 2010 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total operations | 5,202,096 | 5,041,200 | 5,270,893 | 5,076,925 | 5,092,157 | 5,070,501 | 5,180,048 | 5,327,435 | 5,351,983 | 5,411,843 | 5,384,721 | 5,527,884 | 5,683,047 | 5,967,780 | 5,271,359 | 6,488,540 | 7,129,270 | 7,140,596 | 7,141,922 | 7,455,458 | 7,009,726 | 6,450,285 | 6,450,117 | 6,085,281 |
| Late departures | 730,712 | 883,167 | 753,182 | 621,509 | 617,148 | 661,056 | 729,960 | 827,934 | 973,948 | 846,870 | 870,395 | 937,273 | 1,131,663 | 953,808 | 717,368 | 834,390 | 1,187,594 | 1,279,404 | 1,424,777 | 1,572,978 | 1,327,198 | 1,084,290 | 1,111,948 | 1,042,427 |
| Percent of total | 14.0 | 17.5 | 14.3 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 13.0 | 14.1 | 15.5 | 18.2 | 15.6 | 16.2 | 17.0 | 19.9 | 16.0 | 13.6 | 12.9 | 16.7 | 17.9 | 19.9 | 21.1 | 18.9 | 16.8 | 17.2 | 17.1 |
| Late arrivals | 1,042,452 | 1,208,470 | 1,087,774 | 890,068 | 902,567 | 931,437 | 960,254 | 1,039,250 | 1,220,045 | 1,083,834 | 1,070,071 | 1,152,725 | 1,356,040 | 1,104,439 | 868,225 | 1,057,804 | 1,421,391 | 1,466,065 | 1,615,537 | 1,804,028 | 1,524,735 | 1,218,288 | 1,174,884 | 1,109,872 |
| Percent of total | 20.0 | 24.0 | 20.6 | 17.5 | 17.7 | 18.4 | 18.5 | 19.5 | 22.8 | 20.0 | 19.9 | 20.9 | 23.9 | 18.5 | 16.5 | 16.3 | 19.9 | 20.5 | 22.6 | 24.2 | 21.8 | 18.9 | 18.2 | 18.2 |
| Cancellations | 50,163 | 74,165 | 52,458 | 43,505 | 52,836 | 59,845 | 66,740 | 91,905 | 128,536 | 97,763 | 144,509 | 154,311 | 187,490 | 231,198 | 65,143 | 101,469 | 127,757 | 133,730 | 121,934 | 160,809 | 137,432 | 89,377 | 113,255 | 115,978 |
| Percent of total | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| Diversions | 14,436 | 14,839 | 15,954 | 12,585 | 11,384 | 10,333 | 12,106 | 10,492 | 14,121 | 12,081 | 13,161 | 13,555 | 14,254 | 12,909 | 8,356 | 11,381 | 13,784 | 14,028 | 16,186 | 17,182 | 17,265 | 15,463 | 15,474 | 14,399 |
| Percent of total | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
KEY: R = revised.
NOTES
Late departures and arrivals are strongly seasonal and are affected by weather and heavy demand in winter and summer months. The term Late is defined as 15 minutes after the scheduled departure or arrival time. A cancelled flight is one that was not operated, but was listed in a carrier's computer reservation system within seven calendar days of the scheduled departure. A diverted flight is one that left from the scheduled departure airport but flew to a destination point other than the scheduled destination point. The number of carriers reporting beginning in 2011 is 16. The number of carriers reporting in 2010 is 18.The number of carriers reporting in 2008 and 2009 is 19 (20 through February 2008, after which Aloha Airlines ceased reporting). During 2005-2007, 20 air carriers reported on-time performance data, including all major U.S. carriers (carriers with at least one percent of total domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues) and other carriers that reported voluntarily. The number of carriers reporting in previous years is as follows: 2004 (19); 2003 (18); 2002 (10); 2001 (12); 2000 (11); 1999 (10); 1998 (10); 1997 (10); 1996 (10); and 1995 (10).
SOURCES
1988-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information, Airline Service Quality Performance Data.
1995-2011: Ibid., Airline On-Time Tables, Table 1 - Summary of Airline On-Time Performance Year-to-date through December 2010, available at http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/airline_ontime_tables/ as of Feb. 27, 2012.