Even with cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages being readily available last year, the airlines were many travelers favorite punching bag in 09. It seemed every time you turned around last year there was yet another fee being added by the airlines.
The airlines in fact improved their performance in almost every measurable way in 09:
Flights flew on-time (based on departing within 15 minutes of their scheduled time) almost 80 percent of the time vs. 76 percent in 08 and only 73 percent in 07.
Flight cancellations decreased 29 percent, from 1.95 to 1.38 percent.
26 percent fewer bags were mishandled, resulting in 17 percent fewer passenger complaints.
Baggage fees have resulted in fewer bags being checked. Overall industry luggage figures are not available, but US Airways reported handling 20% less baggage since its luggage fees were implemented.
The one area where airline performance fell short was the involuntary bumping of passengers, which increased 7 percent.
Last year was the first year in which carriers were required to report long runway delays. In 09 1,146 planes remained on the tarmac for three hours or more, with 227 planes sitting for four or more hours. With new penalties in place for tarmac delays in excess of three hours, such delays are expected to decline going forward.