Delta improves, rises near top in on-time flights

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines, which has a hub in Salt Lake City, climbed near the top of the on-time rankings in November, its best monthly performance in almost a year.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said 85.6 percent of the Atlanta carrier's flights arrived on time in November, compared with 75.9 percent a year earlier when it ranked 12th out of 20 airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time rate, at 92.4 percent, while the industry average was 80 percent.

Most airlines' rankings in the DOT's reports fluctuate significantly from month to month, but Delta has generally gained ground with the help of a fifth runway that has boosted capacity at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson also improved in the on-time standings, ranking 13th with about 82 percent of flights getting to the gate within 15 minutes of schedule. A year earlier it was 22nd, at about 77 percent. Year-to-date through November, Hartsfield-Jackson moved from 23rd to 16th, with about 75 percent of flights on time.

AirTran Airways, Hartsfield-Jackson's other hub carrier, had an 81.1 percent on-time rate for November, up from 76.9 percent. But it dropped to eighth in the ranking, from seventh a year earlier.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, an Atlanta-based contract carrier for Delta, was 18th out of 20 carriers, with 76.7 percent of flights on time. It had the industry's worst rate of delays a year earlier.

AirTran had the industry's third-lowest rate of baggage complaints, 3.32 complaints per 1,000 passengers. Delta was 12th out of 20, with 5.41 complaints per 1,000. ASA had a lost luggage rate of 7.64, about half of the prior November's 15.77. But it still ranked 19th.