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Complaints about air travel services rose nearly 270% from prepandemic levels in June 2019, according to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report released Friday.
The DOT received more than 5,800 service complaints in June, a nearly 270 percent increase from the more than 1,500 received in the same month in 2019. According to the report, there were more than 28,500 complaints to the DOT during the first six months from 2022, a jump. of 27.8% compared to the same period in 2021 and more than in all of 2019.
The DOT reported that from May to June, the number of service complaints increased by nearly 35%. More than half of the complaints received in June, about 58%, were against US carriers.
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More than 1,600 service complaints in June, nearly 29 percent, were related to flight cancellations, delays or other deviations from airline schedules, the DOT said. About 24% of complaints in June were about refunds.
| Ticker | security | last | To change | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALGT | ALLEGIANT TRAVEL CO. | 98.11 | 2.36 | 2.35% |
| ALK | ALASKA AIR GROUP INC. | 44.89 | 1.31 | 2.84% |
| JBLU | JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP. | 8.03 | 0.35 | 4.18% |
| WELL | UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. | 36,57 | 1.70 | 4.44% |
| LOVE | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. | 37.53 | 1.02 | 2.65% |
| AAL | AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC. | 13.74 | 0.68 | 4.72% |
| DAL | DELTA AIR LINES INC. | 32.68 | 1.31 | 3.85% |
| HA | HAWAIIAN HOLDINGS INC. | 15.41 | 0.73 | 4.52% |
| ULCC | HOLDINGS OF THE FRONTIER GROUP | 12.90 | 0.56 | 4.16% |
Airlines have continued to experience flight disruptions caused by bad weather, staff shortages and air traffic control issues this month. They have been working to combat the disruptions by taking steps such as increasing hiring and training and adjusting flight and crew schedules.
The DOT ranked Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines as the three carriers with the highest ontime arrival rates in June. The three marketing companies with the lowest were Allegiant Air, JetBlue and Frontier, according to the DOT.
MORE THAN 3,100 FLIGHTS DELAYED, CANCELED ON TUESDAY
Airlines canceled around 3% of domestic flights in June, compared to 1.6% in June 2021 and 2.1% in June 2019. The number of flights operated in June was at about 86% of the number in June 2019, before the COVID19 pandemic, according to the DOT.
Flight cancellations are displayed at the departure board at Atlanta’s HartsfieldJackson International Airport as a winter storm moves into the area on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben Gray/AP Newsroom)
Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Frontier had the lowest rates among companies marketing canceled flights in June, while American, Delta and United had the highest, according to the DOT. United told FOX Business it had the lowest June cancellation rate (3.5%) among the big three carriers.
“Delta is focused on good operational performance, including rapid and resilient recovery when factors such as weather and air traffic control programs impact our operation. Of the more than 20,000 Delta and Delta Connection operated during a recent weekend As of August, there were only 15 cancellations worldwide,” a Delta spokesperson told FOX Business.
ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT PHOTOS SHOW METAL PANELS LEAVING PLANE
“Southwest Airlines has landed the most passengers among U.S. airlines while leading all marketing airlines in overall customer satisfaction for June and yeartodate, as defined in the report from the DOT,” Southwest Airlines said in a statement to FOX Business. “We are proud that the data reflects the dedicated work of our employees to deliver our legendary Southwest hospitality every day.”
A Southwest Airlines commercial jet approaches for landing at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California on January 18, 2022. (REUTERS/Mike Blake/Reuters)
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent letters to 10 U.S. airline CEOs in early August, calling the surge in flight disruptions across the country “unacceptable.”
Airlines for American, a trade association representing Alaska Airlines, American, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue and others, told FOX Business that airlines “strive to provide the highest level of customer service” and “want the travelers have a safe, seamless and positive travel experience.” Airlines are working with stakeholders to overcome a tight labor market and other challenges as they emerge from the pandemic, the trade association said.
The International Air Transport Association, Frontier, Allegiant, JetBlue and American did not respond to FOX Business’ request for comment by press time.