Report: Airline cancelations down first three months of 2023

For the first three months of 2023, air carrier cancelations have stayed below 2% and are far lower than last year’s 2.7% rate and the rate of 4.1% for the first three months of 2022, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

And in March 2023, carriers canceled 1.3% of their scheduled domestic flights, lower than both the rate 1.8% in February 2023 and the rate of 1.5% in March 2022.

Lowest rates of canceled flights, March 2023

1. Hawaiian Airlines – 0.7%  
2. Allegiant Air – 0.8% 
3. Southwest Airlines – 0.9%    

Highest rates of canceled flights, March 2023 

1. Delta Air Lines Network – 1.7%    
2. Spirit Airlines – 1.7%    
3. JetBlue Airways – 1.6%  

The same report shows there were more flights this year compared to last. The 608,387 flights operated in March 2023 were 104.64% of the 581,434 flights operated in March 2022. Operated flights in March 2023 were up 4.64% year-over-year from the 581,434 flights operated in March 2022 and up 15.54% month-over-month from 526,543 flights operated in February 2023.

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.