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Which Airline Has Fliers Singing the Blues?

You may get a bargain if you fly JetBlue Airways, but that doesn't mean you'll reach your destination on time.

Among 19 carriers reporting to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, JetBlue had the lowest on-time arrival rates in January, according to the Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report for that month. The popular upstart airline landed on schedule just 70.6 percent of the time. Hawaiian Airlines was best, with a rate of 95.9 percent, and other airlines arrived promptly 78.8 percent of the time.

The report is more bad news for JetBlue, which lost $42.4 million during the fourth quarter due to fuel costs, and it plans to raise fares to improve profits. But it did have one of the lowest rates of canceled flights, at 0.2 percent, which could be tied to its many delays. Other airlines would rather cancel a flight than hurt their arrival rates.

"JetBlue policy is to do whatever it can to get a flight completed," Jim Corridore, an airline equity analyst with Standard & Poor's, told ABC News. "They try very hard not to cancel flights."

Another possible reason for JetBlue's tardiness, Corridore said, is that it added 100-seat Embraer 190 jets to its fleet, which caused some software problems. "We have had some operational issues with the airplane," CEO David Neeleman told analysts at a January conference. The plane's introduction "certainly hasn't been up to what we thought we could do."

Tardy Travel

Rounding out the top three airlines for arrival rates in the report are Southwest Airlines at 84.4 percent and Frontier Airlines at 82.5 percent. Following JetBlue for the fewest timely arrivals were Alaska Airlines, at 71.2 percent, and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, at 72.9 percent.

The most frequently delayed flights in January were:

· American Eagle Airlines flight 4897 from New York LaGuardia to Charlotte, N.C. — late 92.59 percent of the time.

· SkyWest Airlines flight 6243 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, Calif. — late 86.96 percent of the time.

· American Eagle Airlines flight 4685 from New York JFK to Chicago O'Hare — late 83.87 percent of the time.

· Comair flight 5375 from Cincinnati to New York LaGuardia — late 82.61 percent of the time.

· American Eagle Airlines flight 4838 from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to New York LaGuardia — late 82.35 percent of the time.


The highest rates of canceled flights were those by Mesa Airlines (4.2 percent); Atlantic Southeast Airlines (3.1 percent); and American Eagle Airlines (3 percent). Frontier Airlines followed Hawaiian and JetBlue with the lowest rates of canceled flights, at 0.3 percent.

According to the report, the carriers canceled 1.7 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in January, a smaller rate of cancellations than both January 2005's 4.2 percent and December 2005's 1.9 percent.

In addition, the carriers reported that 7 percent of their January flights arrived late because of aviation system delays, compared with 9.46 percent in December 2005; 5.61 percent because of late-arriving aircraft, compared with 8.18 percent in December; 5.81 percent of flights were late for reasons within the airline's control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared with 8.06 percent in December; 0.87 percent because of extreme weather, compared with 1.13 percent in December; and 0.04 percent for security reasons, compared with 0.10 percent in December.

captjns

What else can I but don't fly JB then. I've always gotten a good ride on their aircraft when jump seating. So I couldn't give a rat's a$$ if the plane is late. Baggage, I never check my bags either. You'll never find an airline that has stellar performance every day of the week.

FlyByWire

This is great news about Jet Blue!
Not as nice as the 44 million dollar loss, but nice frosting.

Dizel8

Hey, we aim to please, even disgruntled little you. If we had a mishap, I am sure you would be estatic and break out the lotion!

You must have been so sad, when 292 landed safely.

Fly4Beer

That is the result of not canceling flights like others do, which in fact cost more $ and **** off customers more. JB could add another 20-40 minutes to the turns to fix the issue but that would hurt the bottom line. There is no research that says a late arrival costs an airline revenue but slipping from a 13.5 hr/day use of the aircraft does.

On another note I guess none of the doom sayers have heard that JB is poised to make 20-40 million dollars in profit in 1Q 2006. Wonder what we will talk about when the results come in for 1Q next month?

FlyByWire

Jet Blues MOTTO
"create a pleasant environment to work, which would in turn keep employees happier without having to pay them more"

Can't wait, I am actually getting ready for the New Orlean style funeral to be celebrated yearly when Blue dies.

DO they issue free brooms for JB FO's to make it easy for them to do light cleaning duties like they were taught in school or is it a payroll deduction thing?


DEAD LAST......HAHAHAHAHAHA

banger

Do you have the Cajones to give a prediction date?

FlyByWire

BANGER

3Q of 2008

This will be preceded by continue losses in 2nd,3rd, and 4th Q of 2006. Then of course a readjustment of the pilot contract after a kool-aid session. This helps a little bit in the 1st Q of 2007, but then its all down hill for the rest of 2007. This is the point were Jumpseats now become nearly impossible for a JB pilot on a union airline, but the final "RIP" sign will pop up 3Q of 2008.

Just a prediction. It could go sooner if you listen to the professional bean counters.

banger

OK, cool I'll watch for it. Thanks

Sennaha

Yes. I remember reading an article in a Continental mag. Gordo Bethune quoting something of the order, "Jetblue is smoking ragweed, they will be gone in 5 years." If I'm not sure, its been some time over 5 years now and still waiting.