Air Travel On-Time Performance Improves Amid Flight Padding Concerns
In recent months, airline on-time performance has shown noticeable improvement, causing many passengers to feel that their flights are running more smoothly. However, experts reveal that this perceived efficiency may be partially due to a practice called "flight padding," where airlines adjust their flight schedules to allow for added time. According to Chad Kendall, an aviation professor, airlines typically add around 20 minutes to a two-hour flight itinerary, which helps them appear on time even if they arrive late.
Frequent traveler Holly Brown-Borg appreciates the effects of flight padding, particularly with Delta Airlines, expressing that on-time performance enhances the overall travel experience. Kendall emphasizes that this strategy ultimately benefits both airlines and airports: airlines can boast high on-time rates, and airports enjoy increased customer engagement with local vendors due to longer layover times.
Despite the improved on-time metrics, several elements of air travel have seen a slowdown thanks to an increase in air traffic and operational adjustments. With smaller planes flying more frequent routes, the congestion has sparked longer taxiing times, which, on average, have risen significantly across the country. Travelers have noticed this shift firsthand, with some reporting that they now arrive at the airport much earlier than before to accommodate these changes.
Jonathan Boember, a seasoned flyer, commented on how airport experiences have shifted since the height of air travel efficiency, recalling times of straight access to gates without the need for early arrivals. With the evolving air travel landscape, it seems that while flights may be arriving on time, passengers are still adapting to a new reality of air travel that requires more patience and planning.
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