Air Canada, the country's largest carrier, had the worst on-time performance among major airlines in North America.
The report revealed that the airline only managed to land 63% of its 276,451 flights on time, placing it at the bottom of the list of the continent's 10 largest airlines, as per ABC News.
Air Canada Faces On-Time Performance Challenges
An Air Canada Embraer ERJ-175 aircraft waits at a gate at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on January 1, 2024, in Montreal, Canada.
This means that approximately 140,000 planes operated by Air Canada arrived at the gate more than 15 minutes after their scheduled arrival time. The airline's on-time performance score was five percentage points lower than the second- and third-lowest carriers, JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines, respectively.
Air Canada's rival, WestJet, ranked seventh in North America with a score of 69%. Willy Boulter, a Cirium advisory board member and 35-year aviation veteran, previously set the industry's standards for good on-time performance at 75% or higher. However, with advancements in technology, such as improved jet engines and more efficient air traffic control systems, airlines have been able to achieve higher on-time goals.
Smaller airlines in Canada and the US with worse on-time records than Air Canada were not included in the report due to their size.
Air Canada attributed its outcomes to challenges that affected carriers across the country in the previous year. The airline stated that it consistently improved its operational performance towards the end of the year, with a significant increase in its monthly on-time performance compared to July.
CEO Michael Rousseau acknowledged Air Canada's relatively low ranking, especially after experiencing a wave of flight delays in June and July. He identified severe weather conditions, particularly thunderstorms, and global supply chain issues as contributing factors. Rousseau also highlighted the high load factors, resulting in more spilling traffic where passengers need to rebook with other airlines and may experience significant delays.
Aviation management professor John Gradek emphasized that the challenges faced by Air Canada were not unique to the airline, as other carriers, such as Air Alaska, also dealt with inclement weather. Gradek lamented that Canadians prioritize availability over punctuality, which he considered a shame.
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Experts Question Air Canada's Punctuality
Gabor Lukacs, president of the Air Passenger Rights advocacy group, expressed skepticism towards Air Canada's explanations for its low on-time standing. He argued that WestJet faced similar weather conditions and air traffic control environments while maintaining better performance.
Canada's cold weather, which requires de-icing of planes as early as October and the need to clear runways of snow, causes delays. These factors, along with spaced-out landing and takeoff times, pose challenges to achieving parallel on-time performance in Canada.
However, during the holiday season, most passengers enjoyed smooth sailing due to fairly mild temperatures across the country. This was in stark contrast to the travel nightmares experienced the previous year, when thousands of flights faced delays or cancellations due to poor weather conditions.
During peak travel seasons, the fleet capacity can become stretched thin, making it challenging to promptly find backup planes. The aviation sector's strained capacity also extends to labor, including pilots and baggage handlers. The International Air Transport Association has criticized air traffic control organizations in North America, including Nav Canada, for staffing shortages that cause unacceptable delays and disruptions.
Despite the challenges, Air Canada has experienced a resurgence, reporting a profit of $2.08 billion in the first three quarters of 2023. This followed 11 consecutive quarters of losses amounting to $10.01 billion between 2020 and 2022, when the demand for travel plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delta Air Lines emerged as the most on-time airline in North America, with 85% of its over 1.6 million flights arriving on time. Alaska Airlines secured the second spot, with 82% of its 404,925 flights arriving punctually. WestJet ranked seventh in North America, achieving a score of 69% for its 182,296 flights.
Air Canada has recognized the need to improve its on-time performance and reduce delays and cancellations in the coming year. The airline has acknowledged the importance of investing in airline and airport infrastructure and is committed to addressing the issues that contributed to its lower ranking among airlines in the region, KHOU 11 reported.
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