"For example, in 21 percent of the 550 flight delays that were observed, the flight-information display said the flight was on time, when it was actually delayed more than 20 minutes. In addition, airlines made flight status announcements at the gate 66 percent of the time, but only 57 percent of those announcements were accurate."
"... The report found that more than a quarter of flights are delayed or canceled. Airlines need to 'address steps they are taking on matters within their control to reduce over-scheduling, the number of chronically late or canceled flights and the amount of checked baggage that does not show up with the passenger upon arrival,' [Inspector General Ken] Mead wrote."
Aha! So I'm not the only one who thinks that a large part of airline delays is poor scheduling by the airlines themselves. I've said for years that if you know that a particular airport or flight is going to be "late," then schedule that in. And pulling away from the gate "on time" only to sit on the tarmac for 20 minutes shouldn't count as "on time."
(9:53 EST, Tuesday, 13 February 2001.)
