Airlines Report 15 Tarmac Delays Over Three Hours on Domestic Flights, Five Tarmac Delays Over Four Hours on International Flights in August

WASHINGTON – Airlines reported 15 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights and five tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights in August, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report released today. All reported extended tarmac delays are being investigated by the Department. Previous investigations of tarmac delays have resulted in enforcement action by the Department.

The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 77.6 percent in August 2016, down from the 80.3 percent on-time rate in August 2015, but up from the 75.2 percent mark in July 2016.

The reporting carriers canceled 1.4 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in August 2016, up from the 1.0 percent cancellation rate posted in August 2015, but an improvement over the 1.9 percent rate in July 2016.

The consumer report also includes data on chronically delayed flights and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers. In addition, the consumer report contains a tally of aviation service complaints filed with DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division by consumers regarding a range of issues such as flight problems, baggage, reservation and ticketing, refunds, customer service, disability, and discrimination. The report also includes statistics on mishandled baggage reports filed by consumers with the reporting carriers, data on oversales, and information about the total number of animals that died, were injured, or were lost during air transport in August, as filed by the air carriers with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division.

Consumers may file air travel service complaints on the web at www.transportation.gov/airconsumer. This news release is available at https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/airlines-report-15-tarmac-delays-over-three-hours-domestic-flights-five-tarmac-delays. The full consumer report is available at www.transportation.gov/individuals/air-consumer/air-travel-consumer-reports. Detailed information on flight delays is available at www.bts.gov.

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