Airlines’ on-time performance improves in March

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The nation’s largest airlines had better on-time performance numbers in March than in February and improved over the same month last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

The nation’s 18 top carriers recorded an average on-time arrival rate of 80% in March, compared with a 74.6% rate in February and a 78.4% rate in March 2009.

Airline industry experts attribute the improved performance to fewer weather delays and a decline in total flights because of a drop in demand.

However, overall complaints about airline service in March increased 36% over the same month last year, and reports of passengers being involuntarily denied a seat (bumping) jumped about 30% in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period in 2009, according to the government agency.

Reports of lost or mishandled luggage improved to 3.72 reports per 1,000 passengers in March 2010 from 4.23 reports per 1,000 passengers a year earlier.

At Los Angeles International Airport, the average on-time performance improved to 85% in March 2010 from 83% in March 2009.

--Hugo Martin