Air travel picks up in January over prior year

The number of flights are growing, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report.

The 562,845 flights operated in January 2023 were up 6.59% year-over-year from the 528,070 flights operated in January 2022 and up 2.87% month-over-month from 547,134 flights operated in December 2022.

In January 2023, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.2% up from 69.0% in December 2022 and up from 75.2% in January 2022. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2023 is 76.2%.

Highest on-time arrival rates January 2023:

1. Delta Air Lines Network – 78.6%
2. Alaska Airlines Network – 77.6%
3. Southwest Airlines - 77.5% 

Lowest on-rime Arrival Rates January 2023:

1. Frontier Airlines – 62.6%
2. Spirit Airlines – 69.2%
3. Allegiant Air – 70.4%

The report includes which airlines carriers canceled the most flights and how much baggage was mishandled, among other factoids. 

Other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer. The report is designed to inform consumers about the quality of the services that airlines provide.